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ii 



THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 
BARRYMORE STREET 





The Queen of Little 
Barrymore Street 


By GERTRUDE SMITH 

Author of 

The Arabella and Araminta Stories f " The Boys of 
Mar mi ton Prairie f and others 



New York Chicago Toronto 
Fleming H. Revell Company 
London & Edinburgh 



Copyright 1902, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 


{^September) 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copifes fteoBiveOj 

OCT, 2 190? 

OOWRIOHT ENTI?Y 

CLASS XXo. No. 

k f 

COPY 8. 


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NEW YORK, 158 Fifth Avenue 
CHICAGO, 63 Washington Street 
TORONTO, 27 Richmond Street W. 
LONDON, 21 Paternoster Square 
EDINBURGH, 30 St. Mary Street 


To my Sister 

MINNA CAROLTN SMITH 


















CONTENTS 


1 . 

The Unexpected Guests 

9 

II. 

A Beautiful Room 

24 

III. 

In the Garden .... 

34 

IF. 

Wonderful Trot . . 

45 

F. 

At the Canary Farm . 

54 

FI. 

Old Lover 

61 

FII. 

At the Steamship Ofice . 

69 

Fin. 

Poor Little Mr. Betts 

84 

IX. 

A Hexagon of Girls . . 

96 

X. 

In the Music Room . 

109 

XI. 

Alice on the Balcony . 

123 

XII. 

The Good News for Trot . 

130 

XIII. 

Decorating the House . 

138 


7 


8 


CONTENTS 


XIV, Uncle Edwin . . . . 15 1 

XV. Harry Plans the Parade^ 1 68 

XVI. Trot Wins Her Desire . i8l 
XVH. Alice's Papa .... 189 

XVHL The Day of Trot's Wed- 

ding 195 

XIX. Alice the ^een . . . 210 


The Queen of Little Barrymore 
Street 


I 

THE UNEXPECTED GUESTS 

^ EAR Little Barrymore Street, 
I M seem quiet to-night,’’ the 
old lamplighter said. He 
stopped before turning into Westfield 
Terrace, and looked back down the lines 
of twinkling lights. 

I don’t know any of the grown-ups 
who live on that street, but I always feel 
as though there were a good many of the 
right sort living along in there. There’s 
something about the way the children 
look up into my face and smile, and say, 
^ Good-evening, Mr. Lamplighter,’ that I 
do just admire : so kindly and polite, as 
though they’d been taught to feel loving 
to every one.” 


9 


lo THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


At that moment a clear little voice 
called, Oh, Mr. Lamplighter, wait a 
moment, please, Mr. Lamplighter ! '' 

There was no child in sight in all the 
length of Little Barrymore Street, but 
turning, the lamplighter saw in the dim 
light of Westfield Terrace a lady and 
little girl hurrying towards him. 

Can you tell us where seventy-one. 
Little Barrymore Street is ? The little 
girl stood under the full light of the 
street lamp, looking eagerly up into his 
face. 

“Yes, my dear. You are on the corner 
of Barrymore Street now. Seventy-one 
is down on this side about ten doors from 
here, I should think. 

“ Thank you. Oh, mamma, this is our 
street,’^ called the little girl. “ I told 
mamma I was sure you’d know,” she 
added, smiling. 

“ Thank you, sir,” said the lady as she 
came up. The two hurried on hand in 
hand. 

“ They are newcomers to the city,” 
said the lamplighter to himself, as he 


BARRYMORE STREET 


11 


crossed the little park that formed the 
centre of Westfield Terrace. Well, I’ll 
give them a recommendation, if they are 
thinking of living in Little Barrymore 
Street. That little girl’s eyes looked up 
at me just the right way. What a lovely 
little face she had. And her mother, 
too. ‘ Thank you, sir,’ she said. There’s 
everything in a word, or else there’s 
nothing.” 

“ This is a very nice little street, isn’t 
it, mamma ? ” said the little girl as they 
walked along. 

Yes, dear, it seems very quiet and 
nice.” 

See, there are trees on each side, and 
every one almost, has a window-garden 
and fiowers. I’m real glad Uncle Edwin 
didn’t come to the station to meet us. It 
has been fun finding our own way. And 
that dear old lamplighter ! Did you no- 
tice what a kind face he had, mamma? ” 

“Yes, I did notice, Alice. It drives 
away the heartache to look into a face 
like that. It was one of the kindest 
faces I ever saw.” 


12 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


If he lights this street every night 
well see him again. You mustn’t have 
the heartache, mamma. Uncle Edwin 
didn’t get our telegram or he would have 
met us I know.” 

“ Yes, darling, I’m sure it is all right. 
Papa should have written him though. 
After a moment’s silence she added in a 
brave, sweet voice, Love will rebuild 
our home, Alice.” 

I’ve said that over and over, as you 
told me to, mamma,” said the little girl, 
pressing her mother’s hand to her cheek. 
“ It does not mean we can have papa for 
a long time, perhaps, but it means we 
will not be lonely and sad because we 
cannot have him, and some day, if he 
does go to Australia, we will go too, or 
he will come back to us. Did you notice 
I haven’t cried in two days, mamma ? ” 
Yes, you brave child ! You have 
helped me so much. I do hope papa will 
get work in New York and not go to 
Australia, poor papa ! ” 

You were brave too mamma until we 
didn’t find Uncle Edwin at the station.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


13 


The little girl stopped suddenly. 

Mamma, precious, perhaps we had better 
not go to Uncle Edwin's house. If you 
think the least bit that he doesn't want 
us, why, we do not want to go there, do 
we? " 

But, daughter, there must be some 
mistake or he would have answered my 
letter and would have come to meet us. 
I have no fear that he does not want to 
see me, but papa should have written 
him too." 

There is no one in the street. What 
a still little street it is ! I like it and I'd 
like to live here," said the little girl, and 
she skipped forward, looking eagerly up 
at the numbers on the small silver plates 
of each door. 

Here it is, mamma. Here is seventy- 
one, but there isn't any light and all the 
blinds are closed ! " 

“ Oh Alice, I wish we had waited in 
New York with papa until we had heard 
from Uncle Edwin before we came ! He 
is away from home." 

Well, we know now, mamma, why he 


14 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


didn^t answer our letter or meet us. Some 
one may be here though. I’ll ring the 
bell.” 

The little girl ran up the marble steps, 
and the next moment the tinkling of the 
bell sounded through the still house. 

I hear some one coming to the door ! 
Come quick, mamma ! ” 

Alice, you dear, trustful child ! I 
would have gone away and not even rung 
the bell ! ” said her mother, running up 
the steps. 

The great door swung in and a little 
maid in a pink muslin dress stood smi- 
ling before them in the dim light. 

Is my Uncle Edwin at home ? ” asked 
Alice. 

Oh ! Oh ! ” cried the maid with shi- 
ning eyes, and clapped her hands. No, 
he isn’t, but come in. I know who you 
are ! Come right in ! ” The two followed 
the maid into the hall. 

'‘Were you expecting us to-night?” 
asked Alice’s mother. 

" No, we weren’t expecting you. Come 
this way.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


IS 

She led the way into the long drawing- 
room at one side of the hall, and after 
she had lit the gas, turned and looked at 
Alice, her face still wreathed in smiles. 

Where is Uncle Edwin ? asked 
Alice. 

“ He’s in Europe. He’s been gone six 
months to-morrow. It seems as though it 
was ten months ! ” 

Then he could not have received our 
telegram and letter saying we were com- 
ing at this time? ” said Mrs. Carlton. 

No, he hasn’t yet, but I forward 
all his mail, so he will get it, and Mr. 
Betts opens all the telegrams, and cables 
the messages to him. He must have your 
telegram before this.” She looked at 
Alice. ''You are Miss Alice Carleton,” 
she said. 

"Yes, I am,” said Alice. " How did 
you know ? ” 

" I couldn’t mistake, with all the pic- 
tures I’ve seen of you.” 

" The pictures you’ve seen of me ! 
Where did you see pictures of me ? ” asked 
Alice. 


i6 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


All about this house. There’s one on 
that easel in water color, and there are 
dozens of photographs of you around up- 
stairs.” 

Why, Mamma Carleton, look at this 
picture ! It is me ! ” 

“ Yes, dear, so it is ! ” 

Mr. Worthington painted it himself 
from a photograph. He said he made 
the hair and eyes, as he remembered his 
little sister’s, because he had never seen 
Miss Alice. He got them just right, 
though, didn’t he ? ” 

“Yes, it is a lovely picture,” said Mrs. 
Carleton. 

“ Do I look like that picture, mamma? ” 
asked Alice thoughtfully. 

“Yes, dear, only a little older. That 
was taken from the photograph I sent 
Uncle Edwin two years ago.” 

“Oh, I think it looks exactly like 
her now. I knew you right away when 
I opened the door,” said the little maid. 

“What are we going to do, Alice? 
Uncle Edwin is gone,” Mrs. Carleton 
said, turning to her little daughter. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


17 


‘‘Why, we're going to take off our 
things and stay, of course, mamma I We 
came to stay and I'm sure Uncle Edwin 
wouldn't want us to go away to-night." 

“ Well, indeed, I'm sure he wouldn't, 
Miss Alice," said the little maid. “ Sit 
down and I'll go and tell Mrs. Betts 
you are here and we'll set things go- 
ing." 

“ Isn't this a beautiful house, mamma ? 
I never saw such a beautiful house as 
this. I'm sure we shall like it here very 
much," said Alice when they were alone. 

“ Yes, dear, it is a beautiful house. I 
cannot understand how Uncle Edwin 
could have painted that picture of you ! 
I didn't know he had any talent for 
painting, and that is certainly wonder- 
fully well done." 

“ Perhaps he found out he could and so 
he just painted it," said Alice, wandering 
about the room. “ I guess he loves me a 
little, don't you, or he wouldn't have 
painted my picture ? " 

“ I am sure that he will love you, dear, 
when he knows you." 


i8 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ Oh yes, but I think he loves me now, 
just as I love grandmamma, when I look 
at her picture, though you know I never 
saw her. I often make stories about her 
and she seems just as truly to me as you 
do.” Alice had taken off her hat and her 
yellow curls fell about her face. She was 
really a wonderfully lovely little girl. 
Her brown eyes were so earnest, and her 
cheeks were bright with health and 
color. 

Couldn^t you tell, mamma, that Un- 
cle Edwin has talked a great deal about 
us to that maid ? Isn’t she a nice girl ? 
Do you think she is a servant? ” 

She is very nice if she is. Yes, it 
surprised me greatly that she seemed to 
have heard so much about us, when Ed- 
win never writes to me. It is nearly 
three years since I have had a letter from 
him.” 

Perhaps he doesn’t like to write let- 
ters. I’m sure you don’t like to write 
letters. Mamma ! Look, mamma, a 
face is peeping between the curtains ! ” 

“ I beg your pardon, madam. I know 


BARRYMORE STREET 


19 


that you have discovered me so I will 
come in. Mrs. Betts told me to keep 
out of the way until morning, but I 
couldn’t forbear just a look at the 
little lady.” And the very smallest 
man Alice had ever seen stepped out 
from behind the portiere and came 
into the room. Mrs. Betts told me not 
to ask you, so I came straightway in to 
ask you — How do you like your house. 
Miss Alice Carleton ? ” 

I don’t know what you mean,” said 
Alice, looking at her mother and laugh- 
ing. 

I mean just what I say, for will you 
tell me, if this isn’t your house, who 
does it belong to? ” 

'' Why it belongs to Uncle Edwin I ” 
cried Alice. 

Yes, we may say he lives in it, and so 
does Mrs. Betts, and so do I, Mr. Betts, 
and so does Trot Angel, God bless her. 
But as for who this house really belongs 
to, why, it’s been given over to Miss Alice 
Carleton these two years past, that we all 
know.” 


20 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


‘‘ Oh mamma, what does he mean ? said 
the little girl, running to her mother^s side. 

I’m sure, darling, I haven’t the least 
idea ! ” 

I will explain,” said Mr. Betts, and 
it is a very pretty story, yes it is. Oh, 
here comes Mrs. Betts and Trot Angel, 
God bless her ! I’ll postpone my explana- 
tion until another time. If you’ll excuse 
me. I’ll just step out of sight behind this 
cabinet.” 

The little man started across the room 
towards the cabinet, but suddenly he 
stopped and held up his head. 

No,” he said with great force. You 
have laid down fear, Mr. Betts, let her 
come ! ” 

And the next moment Mrs. Betts and 
the little maid in the pink muslin dress 
entered the room. 

“ This is my wife, madam, Mr. Worth- 
ington’s housekeeper,” said the little 
man, with a wave of his hand. 

Trot Angel laughed merrily. Oh, 
Mr. Betts, you didn’t mind your mother,” 
she said. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


21 


Mrs. Betts gave her husband a quick 
look of disapproval, and hastening for- 
ward, welcomed Alice and her mother 
most cordially. 

Come,’^ she said, and I will show 
you your rooms. 

I am glad you came in to see us to- 
night, Mr. Betts,'' said Alice, running 
up to the little man and holding out 
her hand. 

Good-night, little lady, I thank you," 
said Mr. Betts, grasping her hand, and 
bowing low. 

“Why did you call this my house?" 
whispered Alice. 

“ You'll see, just wait. It's a very 
pretty story, little lady, yes it is," whis- 
pered Mr. Betts. 

“ I like your husband very much, Mrs. 
Betts," said Alice, as they followed that 
lady up the broad stairs. 

“ If Mr. Betts would only appear what 
he is," replied Mrs. Betts quickly. 
“That's what keeps me forever in a 
stir-up. Why, madam, that little man 
has the oversight of all Mr. Worthing- 


22 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


ton^s property, and yet he acts the pop- 
in-jay, just as Buttons does, morning, 
noon and night ! 

There are many who do not act ac- 
cording to the dignity of their position 
in this world, Mrs. Betts,’’ Mrs. Carleton 
answered, smiling. But if we are all 
permitted to act fearlessly, we will grow 
in strength of character. Do you not 
think so? ” 

Mrs. Betts stopped as she reached the 
head of the stairs and looked at Mrs. 
Carleton closely. 

That is exactly what Mr. Worthing- 
ton, your brother, has said to me over 
and over again I I’ve been trying to let 
go of Mr. Betts ever since we’ve lived in 
this house. He’s such a timid man, I 
got in the habit of always standing be- 
hind him, so that now, even when I’m 
not there, poor soul, he looks to see if I 
am, before he acts. This is your room. 
Miss Alice, and the one leading from 
it will be your mother’s. Now I’ll 
run down and get you a little sup- 
per.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


23 


We are very hungry, Mrs. Betts, 
said Alice. 

“Oh, are you, child? Well then. 111 
get you a good big supper. I hope you 
like Mrs. Betts a little, too ? ” 

“ Yes, I do like you, and I like that 
little maid in the pink dress very much, 
too I ” said Alice. 

“ Trot Angel ? I will tell her that you 
said so. She is a very nice girl. Not a 
common girl at all.’^ 

“ And who is Buttons? asked Alice. 

“ Oh, he is a little boy who lives here. 
His name is Harry Atwood. He^s away 
from home, with Mr. Worthington just 
now.’^ 


II 


A BEAUTIFUL ROOM 

H, mamma, oh isn’t this a lovely 
1 1 room 1 ” exclaimed Alice, as the 

door closed and they were alone. 
** Why, it looks just like a little girl’s 
room, doesn’t it ? Look at this dear little 
desk and the flowers and vines growing 
all about the window ! See this little 
dressing table, and that little cunning 
bookcase ! Why, mamma, whose room 
can it be? ” 

I am sure I do not know, Alice. It 
certainly is the very prettiest room for a 
little girl I ever saw ! ” 

Oh, mamma, come here and look at 
this little Bible ! See, ^ Alice Carleton ’ 
is printed on the cover in gold letters 1 ” 
This is a wonderful surprise ! ” said 
Mrs. Carleton, taking the book in her 
hand. “ Of course Uncle Edwin must 
have had you in mind, dear, when he 

24 


BARRYMORE STREET 


25 


furnished this room, though it seems 
strange, when he never has seen you 
and you never have been here 1 ” 

“ Oh, I am so excited, mamma ! ’’ cried 
Alice, throwing her arms around her 
mother. 

“It is very exciting, dear. Let me 
look at the picture on the mantel. Yes, 
it is a picture of me when I was a little 
girl, Alice ! ” 

Alice caught the picture from her 
mother’s hand. 

“ What a cunning you were, mamma ! 
You were little Precious then, weren’t 
you ? How old were you ? ” 

“ I was four years old, I believe, when 
that was taken. Uncle Edwin was five 
years older. We were always together in 
those days. How dearly I loved my 
Eddy ! And how dearly I love him still ! ” 
“ I guess it was this room Mr. Betts 
meant when he called this my house, 
don’t you ? Isn’t it a beautiful, wonder- 
ful surprise, mamma? Now let us go 
into your room.” She ran and opened 
the door into the adjoining room. 


26 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


'' Oh, mamma, it isn’t nearly as pretty 
as mine ! 

Her mother did not reply. She stood 
with her hands clasped, looking around 
her, the tears shining in her eyes. 

“ What is it, Precious, don^t you like 
it very well ? asked Alice. 

^‘Yes, dear, yes. You do not under- 
stand. It is furnished exactly as our 
mother’s room used to be at home ! Oh, 
Alice dear, it seems like a dream ! See, 
sweetheart, the old-fashioned bed with its 
canopy and the odd dressing-table, and see 
how quaint and quiet the colors of the 
room are ! If I live in this room I must 
be very good and trustful and patient, so 
that it will have the atmosphere of peace 
my dear mother gave to her room. 
Every one called our mother’s room a 
haven of rest and happiness.” 

‘‘ You are good and patient, mamma,” 
said Alice. “ Papa always said your room 
in our home was the dearest place on 
earth, and unhappy thoughts could not 
live where you were.” 

Mrs. Carleton sat down in a large 


BARRYMORE STREET 


27 


easy-chair, and drew Alice into her 
arms. 

“ The flowers do not wonder and worry 
about their lives, do they, daughter ? They 
are never fearful lest they shall not be 
clothed and loved and tenderly cared for.’^ 

“No, but they do not think at all, 
they just grow, mamma.” 

“And we have only to grow, Alice. 
We know God cares for us : any thought 
but one of loving confidence is worthless 
and ignorant.” 

“Yes, we are sure of that. We’ve 
noticed it again and again,” said Alice. 
She threw her arms around her mother’s 
neck and kissed her. “ We will be good 
and think only good thoughts. Pre- 
cious.” 

“Yes, we will!” her mother replied, 
firmly. “ We have nothing to fear, and 
no cause for sadness.” 

“ I’m sure Uncle Edwin loves us, or he 
wouldn’t have furnished these rooms for 
us.” 

“Yes, dear, he does. I understand 
now, though he has written so little, and 


28 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


we have been so long apart, he has 
never felt separated from his little sis- 
ter.’^ 

There was a gentle tap at the door. 

Come in,” called Alice, and Trot Angel 
came into the room. 

“Mrs. Betts said if you’d like, she’d 
send your supper up here to-night, or 
would you rather come down to the 
dining-room ? ” 

“ Oh, we’d rather have it here, wouldn’t 
we, mamma, on that little table by the 
window ? ” 

“ Yes, Mr. Worthington often has his 
tea on that table, or his breakfast. He 
can watch the children on Little Barry- 
more Street. The children all know Mr. 
Worthington. You’ll see a time when 
he comes home ! ” 

“Why, what will happen?” asked 
Alice, greatly interested. 

“We’ll all have to keep our hands 
over our ears, for the noise there will be 
in this house for a few days — that’s 
what’ll happen. Well, I’ll bring your 
supper up here, then,” and, turning, the 


BARRYMORE STREET 


29 


little maid tripped out of the room, hum- 
ming as she went. 

“ Didn’t she go out of the room funny, 
mamma? This way,” and Alice went 
humming and tripping across the room. 

She did that to amuse you, dear,” 
laughed Mrs. Carleton. ** When she 
reached the door she looked back to see 
if you were watching her.” 

They are all very interesting people 
in this house, I think,” said Alice, sitting 
down at the little round table by the win- 
dow. “ They are not like common serv- 
ants, are they, mamma? ” 

“ No indeed, they are not common 
servants. Mrs. Betts is a lady,” replied 
Mrs. Carleton. 

“ Well, Mr. Betts is a little gentleman, 
too,” said Alice. “ Did you notice the 
way he bowed, when I told him good- 
night?” 

“ Yes, he was very grand, wasn’t he ? ” 
Now, mamma dear, we mustn’t laugh 
at him ! I think it is only because he is 
so very little that he seems funny. He’s 
just like a little boy, isn’t he ? ” Alice 


30 THE gUEEN OF LITTLE 


joined her mother’s merry laugh. I’m 
glad he is funny, because he made you 
laugh again. It is a long time since you 
laughed that way, Precious.” 

What did the little man whisper to 
you, Alice ? ” 

“ I asked him why he called this my 
house and he said ^ Just wait and you will 
see, little lady. It’s a very pretty story, 
yes it is.’” 

Mrs. Carleton’s laugh rang out merrier 
than before. He is quite the oddest lit- 
tle character I ever saw.” 

There was a quick tap at the door. 
** Come in,” called Alice, and Mr. Betts 
hurried breathlessly into the room. 

It’s a cable for you, madam ! Words 
for you from under the ocean, little 
lady I ” 

It is a message from Uncle Edwin, 
Alice ! ” said Mrs. Carleton. 

“ Oh mamma, open it quick and see 
what it says I ” 

Mrs. Carleton tore open the envelope 
and Alice looked over her shoulder, and 
together they read aloud, — Coming.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


31 


What a short telegram I exclaimed 
Alice. Only one word ! ” 

Coming 1 shouted Mr. Betts in a 
loud tone, and ran out of the room. 

Coming they heard him shouting as 
he ran down the stairs. “ Coming ! Trot 
Angel, God bless you ! Here, let me 
carry up that tray ! ’’ A few moments 
later the little maid and Mr. Betts 
entered the room together. 

“ Oh, I say, isn't that fine news ? " 
cried Trot Angel, and catching hold of 
Alice's hands, she danced with her about 
the room. “ He's on the water now, just 
think. We'll see him in a few days ! 
Glory ! Glory ! Glory ! " 

“He’s on the deep blue sea, he’s coming home to me,” 

sang Mr. Betts, as he set the tray down 
on the little round table. The best man 
that ever drew mortal breath, yes he is. 

* Coming ! ' Now that one word just tells 
a story, doesn't it, little lady ? " 

“ Oh Mrs. Betts, he's coming home ! " 
called Trot Angel, running out into the 
hall and hanging over the banister. A 


32 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


moment later Mrs. Betts hurried into the 
room. 

“ Let me look at it” she said, taking 
the telegram from Mrs. Carleton^s hand. 
“ Bless his dear heart ! ^ Coming.^ I’m 

so glad the message reached you to-night, 
Mrs. Carleton. We’re all like children 
together, in this house, when Mr. Worth- 
ington comes home ! ” 

“ I think it’s beautiful to see how glad 
you all are,” said Mrs. Carleton enthusi- 
astically. “ I feel almost a stranger to 
my brother. It is twelve years since I 
have seen him.” 

“ Yes, I know,” Mrs. Betts’ face grew 
suddenly very serious. 

“ I do not know why he never came to 
see me when he travels so much. I have 
often asked him to, and I’ve always 
wanted to come here, but it was never so 
that my husband could come, and he 
would never consent to my coming with- 
out him.” 

“ Yes, I know,” said Mrs. Betts again. 

“ We have been very unfortunate, and 
have been forced to give up our home for 


BARRYMORE STREET 


33 


a time. My husband expects to sail for 
Australia very soon. He heard suddenly 
of a business opening out there.^^ 

“ What we think a misfortune is often 
the opposite, a great gain, madam,’’ said 
Mr. Betts, stepping bravely forward. 

“Yes, my husband speaks from expe- 
rience, Mrs. Carleton,” said Mrs. Betts. 
“ It is just beyond reason, marvellous, the 
way we have come up out of things. 
Come, Trot Angel, come, Mr. Betts, we 
must leave them alone to eat their supper 
before it gets cold.” 

And as they passed out of the door Mr. 
Betts sang 

“Yes, he’s sailing o’er the sea. 

He’s coming back to me.” 

“Hasn’t he a fine voice, mamma? 
Doesn’t he sing well ? ” said Alice, clap- 
ping her hands. 

“ Yes, he really has a very fine voice. 
And with what true dignity he spoke just 
now. I have a great respect for that little 
man,” Mrs. Carleton replied, laughing. 


Ill 


IN THE GAEDEN 

W HEN Alice woke the next morn- 
ing in her pretty room she lay 
for some time quietly think- 
ing and looking about her. 

Like all children, she took this gift of 
love quite naturally, after the first mo- 
ment of surprise. 

It is just like my story about 
grandma, she thought, only grandma 
couldn^t truly come and live with us in 
the room I thought about. Uncle Edwin 
pretended about me just the way I did 
about grandma, and his pretend has come 
true I ” She sat up in bed. “ I wonder 
what papa would say if he could see this 
room ! Her face grew sad for a mo- 
ment. “ Dear papa, he never wanted 
any one to give me anything ; he wanted 
to give me everything himself, and he 
never wanted any one to give mamma 
anything, either.’^ 


34 


BARRYMORE STREET 


35 


“ Alice darling/’ her mother called 
from the next room. 

Good-morning, Precious, are you 
awake ? ” Alice sprang out of bed and 
ran into her mother’s room. 

“It is a beautiful morning, mamma. 
There are two little girls out on the street 
running. I want to go out and run, too.” 

“ Yes, we will get right up. It is al- 
most nine o’clock ! ” 

“ I’ve been awake a long time. Pre- 
cious. I kept still so you could sleep.” 

“ What have you been doing?” 

“ Oh, just thinking.” 

“ What were you thinking ? ” 

“ Oh, I thought what would papa say 
if he could see my pretty room. You 
know he always wanted to give us every- 
thing himself, didn’t he, because we were 
his dear loved ones.” 

A shadow passed over Mrs. Carleton’s 
face. She held out her hand to her little 
daughter. 

“ Sweetheart, there is but One who 
gives,” she said. 

“Yes, I know, you often say that to 


36 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


papa too. Sometimes I think he doesn’t 
know what you mean at all, mamma.” 

Do you think you understand what I 
mean, Alice ? ” 

Yes, you mean Love gives us all, and 
God is Love. Now please get up, mamma, 
so we can have our breakfast.” 

All right, see who will be dressed 
first,” said Mrs. Carleton, merrily. Ten 
minutes later she peeped into Alice’s 
room. 

Gome, Alice, I want my breakfast,” 
she said, laughing. “ And you haven’t 
your dress on yet ! ” 

“ I keep forgetting to hurry,” Alice an- 
swered. “ There are so many things to 
look at. Do look at that cunning little 
writing paper with my monogram on it, 
mamma. That’s just what I’ve been 
wanting ever so long ! ” 

There was a gentle tap at the door. 

“ I was just listening to hear if you 
were awake.” It was Mr. Betts’ voice in 
a loud whisper. “ You may have your 
breakfast any time you want it.” 

“ All right, we want it now, Mr. Betts,” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


37 


said Mrs. Carleton, laughing, and open- 
ing the door. 

“ There she is buttoning herself into 
her white dress ! said the little man, 
pointing to Alice. I couldn’t believe 
myself when I woke up this morning and 
thought ‘ The Queen has come.’ ” 

“Do you call me the Queen, Mr. 
Betts ? ” asked Alice smiling. 

“Well, no, that’s a name Harry At- 
wood, Mr. Worthington’s valet, gave you.” 

“ Oh, I thought he was a little boy,” 
said Alice. 

“ Yes, so he is. He’s not a full grown 
valet, just coming up, you know, but my 
storms, he looks out for Mr. Worthington, 
I can tell you ! ” 

Alice and her mother followed Mr. 
Betts, down the stairs and into the large 
pleasant dining-room. 

“ See, mamma, look out of this window ! 
Here is a beautiful garden ! Oh, so many 
flowers, and a fountain playing ! And oh 
mamma, come quick, come quick and 
see the redbird. See, right over by that 
rose-bush, at the edge of the fountain ! ” 


38 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Yes, dear, isnT it a lovely garden ? ” 

“That redbird is just about tame,'' 
said Mr. Betts, coming to the window 
also. “ He's in the garden every day or 
two. Trot Angel has a way with birds 
that is marvellous. Yes, marvellous, that 
it is. They come about her as though 
she were one of them. So she is in heart, 
God bless her ! " 

“ Oh, good-morning," said Mrs. Betts, 
coming into the room just then. “ Why, 
why didn't you tell me they were down, 
Mr. Betts? Aren't you going to your 
office this morning? " 

“Yes, I am going now," the little man 
said, flushing, and walked out of the 
room like a reproved child. 

“ I can't seem to break myself of dicta- 
ting to him ! " said Mrs. Betts, answering 
a look in Mrs. Carleton's eyes. “ He does 
appear so irresponsible at times ! I forget 
the great change that has come to him. 
He was as helpless as a baby on my 
hands for years, Mrs. Carleton. I'll tell 
you about it some day. Yes, he's a man 
now, and I should be the first to credit 


BARRYMORE STREET 


39 


it. His childlike ways never will leave 
him, never. He’ll never have any dig- 
nity, not if he rises to be the President of 
the United States, and there’s no use ex- 
pecting it ! ” 

Mrs. Betts talks a great deal, doesn’t 
she, mamma ? ” said Alice, when they 
were alone eating their breakfast. “ One 
minute I think I do not like her at 
all, but when she smiles I just love 
her ! ” 

Yes, you feel what a good, kind heart 
she has when she smiles,” replied Mrs. 
Carleton. 

She thinks she knows a great deal 
more than poor little Mr. Betts, doesn’t 
she ? ” 

“ Alice, no, no ! ” said Mrs. Carleton 
sternly. 

Why do you say no, no ? She does,” 
said Alice, looking up. 

Mrs. Carleton smiled but made no re- 
ply. Oh, you mean I mustn’t criticise 
Mrs. Betts, don’t you ? ” 

“ Yes, dear.” 

'' I never will again if you’ll just let me 


40 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


say one thing, mamma,” said Alice laugh- 
ing. 

Mrs. Carleton shook her head. No, 
you needn’t say it.” 

** It isn’t unkind, it’s just funny,” said 
Alice. 

Well, what is it? ” 

*‘Why, if Mrs. Betts had Mr. Betts’ 
nose and he had hers don’t you think it 
would be a fine exchange ? ” 

“ I don’t understand,” replied Mrs. 
Carleton, laughing. 

Why, didn’t you notice her nose is so 
very little and his is so very big. She’d 
look so much more important with his 
when she talks ; and think how cunning 
he’d look with hers, mamma ! ” 

“ Oh Alice, you ridiculous girl ! ” said 
Mrs. Carleton. You do think of the most 
nonsensical things ! ” 

That’s why I like Mr. Betts,” said 
Alice, laughing. “ He says funny things 
and Trot Angel is funny too. I do like 
funny people, mamma.” 

Alice slipped down from her chair, and 
went humming and skipping out of the 


BARRYMORE STREET 


41 


room in the way that Trot had left her 
mother’s room the night before. She 
went into the garden. What a wonder- 
ful garden that was I Alice counted two 
hundred different kinds of flowers and 
shrubs during that first happy hour. 

I’m going to get a book and call it 
my flower-book, and write down all the 
names of the flowers, as I learn them, 
and describe them, and then I’ll feel ac- 
quainted with them, and all the different 
kinds of shrubs and vines. I’ll write 
those down too. All these dear little 
paths to run in ! Oh, I’m so happy ! ” 
She spread out her arms and pretended 
to fly, as she used to do when a very little 
girl in the kindergarten. 

“I’m so happy and so free, 

Little birdies, brothers all, fly with me,” 

sang Alice, and away she lightly tripped 
down a little path between the flower beds. 

Heigh ho, here we go ! ” said a voice 
behind a high syringa bush. 

Oh,” said Alice, stopping. I didn’t 
know there was any one in the garden ! 
Are you the gardener? ” 


42 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Yes, I’m the gardener. Come around 
here and take a good look at me.” 

“ I beg your pardon,” Alice said, peek- 
ing around the bush. I wasn’t exactly 
looking at you, I was looking at your 
linen clothes. How blue they are, just 
the color of your ” 

She stopped and started to walk on. 

“ Just the color of my eyes,” called the 
gardener, laughing. 

Alice jumped over the flower border 
and ran around the syringa bush. 

Yes, your eyes. How did you guess 
what I meant? ” 

“ Oh, that’s an old story,” replied the 
gardener. Your clothes and your 
eyes and the skies are all made to 
match, John Holderman, are all made to 
match.” 

“ Who says that to you? ” asked Alice, 
laughing. 

Every child that comes into the gar- 
den sooner or later says it. You are a 
new one. I never saw you before. I 
thought the gates were all locked. How 
did you get in ? ” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


43 


Why, don’t you know who I am?” 
asked Alice in surprise. 

“ No, I’m sure I don’t, but I think you 
ran away from home or you’d have your 
hat on, in this sun.” 

“ I am at home,” replied Alice. “ This 
is my Uncle Edwin’s garden.” 

The gardener opened his blue eyes very 
wide, but he did not say a word. 

“ Didn’t any one tell you we were 
here ? We came last night, mamma and 
I,” Alice explained. 

The gardener shook his head, still 
looking at her. 

“ Boo ! ” said Alice, laughing. “ Stop 
looking at me so funny 1 ” 

“ And you are the little Alice Carleton 
I’ve heard so much about ! ” said the 
gardener. Does your uncle know you 
are here? ” 

“ Yes, we had a telegram from him last 
night. He is on the ocean now, coming 
home. Didn’t you know he was coming 
home?” 

For reply the gardener caught off his 
blue cap and threw it high into the air. 


44 the queen of LITTLE 


Hurrah I he shouted. Coming 
home, is he? No, I didn’t know it. 
When will he be here ? ” 

I don’t know. In a few days, 
though.” 

“ Good news ! Good news ! I’m going 
right home and tell Betty. The ever- 
lasting weeds can wait ! ” 

And the next moment Alice saw him 
disappearing through the little gate at 
the foot of the garden. 

I suppose Betty is his wife,” she said, 
sitting down in the grass in the shade of 
the big syringa bush. “ How glad they 
all are because Uncle Edwin is coming. 
He must be a very, very good man, every 
one loves him so dearly.” 

She sat silently thinking for some time 
and looking about her. ^‘Your clothes 
and your eyes and the skies are all made 
to match, John Holderman, are all made 
to match,” she repeated aloud. 

A funny little laugh made her look up, 
and there stood three little girls and 
three little boys looking at her between 
the high ironbars of the garden fence. 


IV 


WONDERFUL TROT 

how do you do/' said Alice, 
I m and sprang to her feet and ran 
over to the gate. I wish you 
could come into the garden, but the gate 
is locked and the gardener has gone 
home. I guess he'll be back soon, though, 
and I'll ask him to let you in." 

We never come in when Mr. Worth- 
ington is away from home," said one of 
the boys. 

Why the gardener said there were al- 
ways children in the garden, so I sup- 
posed you came in whenever you wanted 
to." 

We do when Mr. Worthington is 
home," said one of the little girls. 

I don't believe he knows John Hol- 
derman locks us out when he's away, 
either," said a second boy. 

“ Well, I guess he doesnH know it," said 
45 


46 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


the third boy. “ I guess John Holder- 
man would find out, if Mr. Worthington 
knew he locked us out ! ” 

What is your name ? one of the lit- 
tle girls asked Alice shyly. 

It’s Alice Carleton. What is yours? ” 

“ There, I told you so ! ” exclaimed one 
of the boys. All the other children 
opened their eyes very wide and stared at 
Alice. 

<< Why, I didn’t know you were a truly 
little girl ! ” said one of the little girls at 
last with a long breath. 

“ Of course I’m a truly little girl, 
what do you mean ? ” said Alice, laugh- 
ing. How funny you all look at 
me!” 

Are you that beautiful picture in the 
drawing-room?” asked one of the little 
girls. 

That’s a picture of me on the easel in 
the drawing-room, but I think it’s lots 
prettier than I am,” said Alice, blushing 
and looking down. 

It looks just like you. I said it was 
you the minute I saw you, didn’t I, 


BARRYMORE STREET 


47 


boys ? said the boy who had first de- 
clared he knew. 

‘‘We thought you were just a story 
girl ! ” said one of the little girls. “ Mr. 
Betts said you were, and Mr. Worthing- 
ton said he never saw you.’^ 

“ I never quite believed she was just a 
story girl. I thought she was real,’^ said 
another of the little girls. 

The third little girl looked too disap- 
pointed to speak. 

“ How funny ! ” said Alice, clapping 
her hands. “Did you see my lovely 
room? You didn't think Uncle Edwin 
would furnish a room for a make-believe 
girl, did you ? " 

“ Mr. Betts said it was all make-believe. 
He said if you were a truly little girl Mr. 
Worthington would have seen you some 

“ We lived in California and that's a 
long, long way from here so we couldn't 
come before," said Alice. “ My mamma 
came with me but papa is in New York ; 
perhaps he's going to Australia to get 
some work to do." 


48 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Didn’t you know Mr. Worthington 
was in Europe ? ” asked Oxxe of the little 
boys. 

No, we didn’t know. We had to 
come east, and papa came very suddenly. 
We couldn’t wait for a letter.” 

“ Oh,” said the children in chorus. 

We had a telegram from Uncle Edwin 
last night,” said Alice. He’s coming 
home. He’s on the ocean now.” 

Coming home ! ” cried the children. 
“ On the ocean now I ” 

“ Oh, I’m going to tell my mamma I ” 
said one little girl. 

Oh, oh, he’s coming home ! ” squealed 
the other little girls, and off they all ran 
down the street as fast as they could 
go. 

The boys followed them until they 
reached the grassy space in the centre of 
the street. There they stopped and turned 
somersault after somersault, and such 
glad whoops and yells as went up from 
the throats of those three small boys — it 
was certainly good to hear. Alice laughed 
until the tears rolled down her cheeks. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


49 


All down Little Barrymore Street won- 
dering faces appeared at the windows. 

“ What is the excitement, dear ? ” called 
Alice’s mother, coming out on a little 
balcony overlooking the garden. 

Oh, I’m so glad you were looking, 
mamma ! ” cried Alice, running over and 
standing beneath the balcony. It was 
because I told them Uncle Edwin is com- 
ing home. Come down into the garden, 
I want to tell you what they said to me, 
it is so funny ! ” 

** I can’t now, Alice, I am unpacking. 
Come in and get your hat, dear.” 

As Alice opened the door to go into the 
house she met Trot Angel coming out. 
Trot was dressed in a very pretty light 
wool dress and had her hat on. 

I was just coming to see if you would 
like to go with me. Miss Alice.” 

Where are you going?” asked Alice. 

I’m going down to the steamship 
office, and see what day the Worthington 
steamer gets in. But first I’m going 
around to Betty Holderman’s to take her 
this book.” 


50 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


** Yes, thank you, I should like to go,^' 
said Alice. I'll go and get my hat, and 
ask mamma." 

A few minutes later Alice and Trot 
Angel were going through the little gate 
at the foot of the garden. 

“ I knew you'd be interested to go to 
Betty's with me. All the children like 
to go there," said Trot. Betty has the 
dearest little twin boys, and then she has 
a canary farm." 

What is a canary farm? " asked Alice, 
greatly interested. 

“ Why, she raises canaries to sell, and 
she does well at it, too. Her canaries sing 
as though they came straight out of 
heaven." 

Alice looked up at Trot and smiled. 

Yes they do," said the little maid, 
smiling in return. 

They were going through one corner 
of Westfield Terrace now and the trees 
were alive with birds. 

Oh, did you see that little bird, how 
near he came to you ? " cried Alice. 

Oh, that is one of my little friends ! 'V 


BARRYMORE STREET 


51 


said Trot. She made a queer little call- 
ing noise in her throat. The next mo- 
ment a little gray-coated bird flew down 
and lit on her shoulder. 

“ Oh ! ” cried Alice, and put her hand 
over her mouth to smother any further 
words. 

This is my little See-you,’^ said Trot, 
touching the tiny head with her Anger. 

He is in our garden almost every day. 
We are great friends. Isn’t he a dar- 
ling? ” 

Dare I speak ? ” whispered Alice. 

Yes, heTl not be afraid. See his 
sweet eyes ? There is no fear in them.” 

How could you do it?” exclaimed 
Alice. How could you make him come 
to you that way ? ” 

The bird with a contented twitter 
spread his little wings and flew away. 

A number of people had stopped and 
were looking at the pretty scene in 
amazement. Trot took Alice’s hand and 
hurried on. 

“ I never did that before, where any 
one could see me,” said Trot. I was 


52 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


just doing it for you. I didn’t think 
about people’s stopping that way.” 

“ I wouldn’t care,” said Alice. They 
all enjoyed it. It was lovely the way he 
twitted and talked to you. Call him 
some day when he comes into the garden 
so mamma can see you, will you ? ” 

“Yes, but not when the children are 
there. Please don’t tell the children I 
can do it, will you ? ” 

“ No, not if you don’t want me to.” 
Alice looked at Trot with a wonderful 
new interest. “ Could you always make 
birds come to you like that? ” she asked. 

“Yes, ever since I can remember, but 
they come more readily than they used 
to. Now we go down this little back 
street, and we will come to a little green 
door set in a white frame, and that is 
where Betty Holderman lives.” 

“ Your clothes and your eyes and the 
skies are all made to match, John Hol- 
derman, are all made to match,” repeated 
Alice, laughing. 

“ Oh, you’ve seen John already, have 
you ? ” said Trot. “ He came to Mr. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


53 


Worthington^s when he was just Buttons^ 
age and he’s been working for him ever 
since. He’s a very fine gardener.” 

“ How old is Buttons ? ” asked Alice. 

Twelve years old. He calls himself 
Mr. Worthington’s valet, but he is being 
sent to school, and is treated exactly as 
though he were Mr. Worthington’s own 
boy.” 


V 


AT THE CANARY FARM 

a cunning little green 
\/^y door ! ” said Alice. It is so 
^ ^ low I should think Mr. Hol- 
derman would bump his head when he 
goes in, he is so tall.” 

I guess he does have to bob his head 
a bit,” replied Trot, and knocked again 
on the little green door. You will 
notice several queer looking houses and 
entrances on this street. It is one of the 
very oldest streets in the city. A dear 
old gentleman, Mr. Hey man, owns the 
house. He rents it to Betty and John 
but he keeps a room for himself, the one 
opening from that balcony up there.” 

Oh, and does he live here with 
them ? ” 

‘‘ No, he just lives in that one room 
and takes his meals at the little shop 
around the corner. He says he'll be one 

54 


BARRYMORE STREET 


55 


hundred years old his next birthday. 
Some people doubt it, but I don’t. If 
he’d say he was two hundred I’d believe 
it,” laughed Trot. 

“ One hundred years old I Well, I don’t 
believe it ! ” said Alice. 

“ Perhaps you will after you know 
him,” Trot replied. And just then the 
little green door swung in and there stood 
Betty Holderman with her tiny twin 
boys clinging to her skirts. Oh, such 
round rosy-cheeked little boys. 

You precious little loves ! ” exclaimed 
Alice, before any one had spoken a word 
of greeting. Oh ! oh I you sweet little 
things ! ” 

“ This is Miss Alice Carleton,” said 
Trot. “ I suppose John spoiled my fun 
and told you she was here? ” 

Yes, he did,” said Betty, and drew 
Alice quickly into her arms and kissed 
her three times. 

Two for you and one for your blessed 
uncle ! ” she said. “ Oh, how glad I am 
he is coming home ! ” 

“ Every one seems glad,” replied Alice 


56 THE QU;EEN OF LITTLE 


“ I never knew any one who had so many 
friends, except perhaps mamma.’’ She 
held out her hands to the twins. Come 
and kiss me too, you dear cunnings.” 

Give girlie a good love. Iambi es,” 
said Betty, pushing the twins for- 
ward. 

The lambies did as they were bade, 
and in turn hugged Alice with such 
energy that she was glad to free herself 
from their small arms. 

We can hug tight,” said one, survey- 
ing Alice’s tumbled hair and flushed face 
with satisfaction. 

We wufF as ’ittle bears,” said the other. 

Isn’t we, muvver ? ” 

Yes, you are,” replied Betty laughing. 
“You are altogether too rough to play 
with any one but big father ! Just look at 
dear girlie’s hat on the floor and her 
pretty hair all rumpled ! ” 

“ Oh, I don’t mind,” said Alice. “ I 
do love babies.” 

“You may come and play with Leon 
and Mark as often as you please,” replied 
Betty, and led the way from the tiny 


BARRYMORE STREET 


57 


hall, where they had been standing, to 
a tiny parlor at one side. 

“ Which is Mark and which is Leon ? 
asked Alice laughing. They look ex- 
actly alike. 

No, one has a dimple in his chin,” 
said Betty. See, this is Mark. I would 
know them apart, anyway, but their 
father and everybody else always has to 
look for the dimple.” 

I brought your book home, Betty,” 
said Trot. Let Miss Alice have a peep at 
the canaries and then we must go. We 
are going down to the office to see what 
day Mr. Worthington’s steamer gets 
in.” 

Betty took the book from Trot’s 
hand. “Did you read any of it?” she 
asked. 

“Yes, every word. That is the book 
Mr. Worthington and Mr. Betts are al- 
ways reading, did you know that? ” 

“ Why yes, that’s why I lent it to you. 
We know what studying it has done for 
Mr. Betts.” 

“Yes, indeed we do. Doesn’t it just 


58 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


take your breath away when you think of 
the change in that man in the last two 
years ? 

Yes, it does, Trot. It is marvellous ! 
I think I’ll have one of my OAvn.” 
She turned to Alice who was playing 
with the twins on the other side of the 
room. Go with Betty, Miss Alice, and 
see the canaries. I must hurry back in 
time to help get dinner.” 

Alice followed Betty out through her 
little kitchen and up the crooked little 
stairs that opened from the kitchen into 
a long low room with many windows. 
As they came into the room a burst of 
music greeted them. 

Oh, oh,” cried Alice, clapping her 
hands. “ Isn’t it beautiful ! How many, 
many birds, Mrs. Holderman ! ” 

I only have thirty-two, now,” ^aid 
Betty. A few months ago I had 
fifty. They were wonderful singers. 
You should have heard the concert 
then.” 

‘^It couldn’t have been lovelier than 
this. I’m going to bring mamma here 


BARRYMORE STREET 


59 


to hear them sing. What a pretty room, 
all flowers and vines I 

“Yes, you see this was two rooms and 
Mr. Hey man, the man who owns the 
house, had the partition taken out for 
me. He bought all these flowers and 
vines, too. He brought in first one pot 
of flowers and then another and left them 
for a surprise. You^d like Mr. Hey man. 
He isn^t like anybody else that ever 
lived.’^ 

“ Trot said he lived in the room with 
the iron balcony.^’ 

“ Yes, just across the hall here. Per- 
haps you could peep through the key- 
hole and see him, if he is in.’^ 

“ Oh, it wouldn’t be polite to peep 
through the keyhole ! ” said Alice. 

“ He won’t mind. He told Leon and 
Mai^k to peep through whenever they 
went past, and he’d wink at them twice 
when they could come in and once when 
they were to run away. Sometimes, 
though, when he is very busy he puts 
a chair before the door so you can’t 
see in.” 


6o THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Alice followed Betty out into the hall 
and after hesitating a moment dropped 
down on her knees and peeped through 
the keyhole. 


VI 


OLD LOVER 

S EATED by a large round table 
covered with papers and books sat 
a gentleman dressed in a red gown. 
His white hair, which was combed straight 
back over his head, hung in soft waves 
to his shoulders. 

“ You don’t believe he’s most a hun- 
dred years old, do you ? ” Alice whispered, 
after a moment, looking up at Betty. 

Betty bowed her head, smiling. Alice 
looked through the keyhole again. 

I love him,” she whispered, after a 
moment, looking up again. I think 
he’s just beautiful I ” 

I guess we’d better go now,” said 
Betty. “ Likely he knows you are there, 
but is too busy to look up. He has the 
keenest ears.” 

As she said this the old gentleman 
turned directly around in his chair and 

6i 


62 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


looking towards the door, winked twice 
and clapped his hands loudly. 

“ Come, come quick to these arms, 
lambkins ! ’’ he called. 

“ You’d better open the door and ex- 
plain,” whispered Betty. “ He thinks 
it is my babies but he’ll be glad to see 
you.” 

Alice pushed open the door and went 
in. 

“ It wasn’t the babies ; I was peeking. 
It was very rude,” she stammered, greatly 
embarrassed. 

“ Mine heart ! And who is this ? ” ex- 
claimed the old man, holding up both 
hands high above his head. 

“ I’m Alice Carleton, Mr. Worthing- 
ton’s little niece. I came up with Betty 

to see the canaries, and ” 

I told her to take a peek in at you, 
sir,” said Betty, coming to the door. 

^<Why that’s all right then. Come 
here to me till I see your dear eyes.” 

Alice crossed the room to his side. He 
took both her hands and looked at her 
closely for several minutes, and then 


BARRYMORE STREET 


63 


leaning forward kissed her upon the 
forehead. 

Now I would give you a gift, my 
child. What shall it be ? 

“ Oh, anything you please, thank you,’^ 
said Alice. 

Well, then we will have a game to- 
gether.’' He took Alice’s face between 
his hands. “ This shall be our game. I 
will put my hand into my pocket and 
the first piece I touch I will give to you, 
and 3^ou shall give it to the first one who 
comes to you in need. Now look, I have 
no knowledge what it will be, and bid I 
Godspeed when it goes from me.” 

Alice’s eyes were bright with interest. 

Oh, not that ! ” she cried, as his hand 
came out of his pocket and opened before 
her. ' 

Yes, that ! Did you not agree to the 
game ? ” cried the old gentleman in exact 
imitation of Alice’s excited tone. 

“ But I can’t take it. Why, it’s a five 
dollar gold piece ! ” cried Alice. 

‘^Yes, you can, and you shall. The 
day will not pass before you give it to an- 


64 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


another. Then what have I given you 
my fearful one ? ” 

Alice sprang forward and threw her 
arms around the old man^s neck. 

I love you, I do ! she cried. 

Do you love me, tender heart ? Then 
trust me. I feel that you will need this 
money and will thank me that you have 
it to give to another. If I am mistaken 
you may return it to me.^^ 

Alice looked around at Betty. Oh, 
what shall I do, I can’t take his money?” 

You can take from dear Mr. Hey man 
what you could not from any one else,” 
said Betty. There seems to be no value 
to him in money. He gives away all the 
time just what he pleases and yet he al- 
ways has plenty.” 

The sun gives light continually, and 
still has light to give,” said the old man, 
turning to the window. Now leave me 
for I must go to my work.” 

'' I don’t know what to do,” said Alice, 
when they were in the hall. I know 
mamma will send me right back with it.” 

The twins were sitting on the top step 


BARRYMORE STREET 65 


of the stairs as they started to go 
down. 

What are you doing here, you naugh- 
ties ? ” said the mother. 

“We ran away from Trot and we are 
keeping still,’’ said Leon. 

“We are going to peek to our old Lover,” 
said Mark. 

“ No, no,” replied Betty. “ Old Lover 
is busy, you can’t peek to him to-day.” 

“ Yes we can I Yes we can ; old 
Lover ! ” he screamed. 

“ I hear nothing,” answered a deep 
stern voice from within the room. 

“Can’t we peek to you to-day?” 
shouted Mark. 

“ No.” 

“ There now,” said Betty. “ It will be 
many k day before you get into that room 
again. What does old Lover always say 
to you ? ” 

“ Obey,” said Mark quickly. “ I said 
it first ! ” 

“ I thought it first,” said Leon. 

“ Does he say obey to them ? ” laughed 
Alice. 


66 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Yes, it is beautiful to hear him talk 
to them. Just as though they were little 
men, and they seem to understand every 
word he says, and they heed what he 
says, too. I wish my words, and their 
father^s reached them as his do, but we 
are not wise enough. Every day I thank 
God we have that blessed old angel in 
this house. 

They went down the stairs and into the 
little sitting-room where Trot Angel was 
waiting for them. 

I must kiss you again, you dear 
girlie,^ ^ said Betty as she told Alice good- 
bye at the door. I Ve loved your picture 
so long it does seem good to have the real 
girlie come here so we can all know her ! ” 

Let us hurry and get home ; I want to 
tell mamma something,’^ said Alice, ta- 
king Troths hand as they went down the 
street. If she says I may I’ll tell you 
too ! ” 

Did you go in to see Mr. Hey man ? ” 
asked Trot. 

‘‘Why, how did you know?” asked 
Alice, greatly surprised. 


BARRYMORE STREET 67 


I could tell by your face when you 
came down-stairs. It is almost like talk- 
ing to some one from another world, isn’t 
it ? Doesn’t he say strange things ? ” 

He didn’t say anything strange to 
me, but he did something strange. I’m 
not going to tell you for I know mamma 
will send me right back with it.” 

Oh, he gave you something, did he? ” 
said Trot, laughing. '^Well, I’m sure 
she’ll not object to your keeping anything 
dear Mr. Heyman gives you. He’s given 
me many a fine present.” 

''Oh, has he? What has he given 
you ? ” 

" Fruit and fiowers and sweetmeats 
right from Germany, and ” 

" But he gave me that,” said Alice, 
holding out the five dollar gold piece in 
her hand. "Money is different. Papa 
told me never to take money for a pres- 
ent, except for a Christmas present or a 
birthday.” 

Trot laughed. " Oh, is that it ? Well, 
I haven’t any such feeling about money. 
I’d take it from any one who gave it to 


68 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


me in the right way. Your Uncle Edwin 
will tell you that people who think too 
much of money don’t get half the good 
out of what they have, and ten to one 
lose more than they make.” 

Alice’s face flushed. That’s just like 
papa,” she thought. He’s lost more 
than he ever made.” And she was very 
quiet and thoughtful during the remain- 
der of their walk to the steamship office. 


VII 


AT THE STEAMSHIP OFFICE 

W HILE Trot was making en- 
quiries about the arrival of Mr. 
Worthington’s steamer, Alice 
was examining a map of Australia which 
she found on the wall behind the office 
door. 

“ I don’t want to go and live way off 
in Australia ! ” she thought. “ I don’t 
believe papa will do any better there than 
he will anywhere else. It’s just a no- 
tion ; because he is so troubled. I know 
mamma thinks so too. I don’t see why 
there isn’t plenty of things to do in 
this country to make money just as well 
as in Australia.” 

“ Which port are you thinking of sail- 
ing to ? ” asked a voice near by. 

Alice looked up quickly. I was only 
looking at the map,” she said. Who 
spoke to me ? ” 


69 


70 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


The smiling face of a young man ap- 
peared over the top of a high desk. 

“ What made me ask ? I’m going to 
Australia myself as soon as I can get 
away. I thought perhaps we might sail 
on the same steamer.” 

Oh, I’m not going, but my father is 
thinking of going,” replied Alice. 

I beg your pardon. You looked so 
sad I thought the ticket had been bought 
and some one was going.” 

“ I don’t think papa has bought his 
ticket yet, but he will in a few days. 
He’s in New York, and if he can’t get 
work there, he is going to Australia.” 

“ And you don’t want him to go, I take 
it? ” replied the young man. 

“ No, I don’t want to go and live away 
off there in the middle of the ocean ! ” 

“ Now that is just where I should like 
to live. I suppose you have told your 
father your ideas on the subject? ” 

Alice shook her head and turned away. 

Oh, wait a moment.” 

“ No, you are laughing at me,” said 
Alice without turning around. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


71 


“ On honor, I’m not.” The young man 
slipped down from his high stool and 
came out to her. “You know I’ve seen 
you before many times. I knew you the 
minute you came into the office with Miss 
Angel.” 

“ Where did you ever see me before? ” 
asked Alice, looking up at him in sur- 
prise. 

“ Hasn’t Mr. Worthington a large pic- 
ture of you on an easel in his drawing- 
room? ” 

“ Yes, do you know my Uncle Edwin ? ” 

“ Well, I should think so ! He helped 
me through college and he found this po- 
sition for me, and oh, a list of benefits. 
I knew you were the original of that pic- 
ture, when you came in with Trot Angel. 
Isn’t she a nice girl, though? ” 

“ Yes, she is.” 

“That is what I think, decidedly.” 
He took a card out of his pocket and 
wrote something across the back of it. 
“ Will you hand this to Miss Angel, please, 
on your way home ? Tell her Theo will 
be up for her answer this evening.” 


72 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


I never heard any one talk as fast as 
you do in my life ! ’’ said Alice, laughing, 
as she took the card. 

“ That’s why I want to go to Australia. 
I’m altogether too rapid for this small 
eastern city. I want to own a three 
thousand acre ranch, and horses, and ride 
like the wind, and live out of doors and 
be free. That’s exactly what I’m going 
to do and have, do you understand? 
Here comes Trot Angel. Don’t fail to 
give her that card on the way home, will 
you ? ” 

He stepped back behind the high desk 
and began writing rapidly, not raising his 
eyes as Trot and Alice passed out of the door. 

“ Mr. Worthington’s steamer is due Fri- 
day noon,” Trot said to Alice, as they 
hurried down the street. 

‘‘ Three days, after to-morrow,” replied 
Alice. 

Why don’t you count to-morrow ? ” 
asked Trot, laughing. 

I always count that way. It makes 
it seem so much nearer. To-morrow is 
to-day when it comes, you know.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


73 


Then to-morrow you’ll say only one 
day more till he comes? ” 

Yes,” laughed Alice. I know it is 
silly, but you just try it and see how 
much nearer it makes it seem.” 

All right, I will. I’ll be so busy to- 
morrow it will pass before I know it any- 
way.” 

“ The young man at the high desk by 
the door gave me this card to hand you. 
There is something written across the 
back of it.” 

Trot read the line on the card and then 
tucked it quickly into her pocket. 

How did he come to speak to you ? ” she 
asked, laugjiing. Alice told her all that 
had passed between them. 

Oh,” said Trot, squeezing Alice’s 
hand hard. Oh, if he only can do it 
we will make one, two, three ; five people 
perfectly happy ! ” 

If he can do what ? ” asked Alice. 

I can’t tell you now, but you are one 
of the five that will be happy if he can 
do it.” 

“ When will I know ? ” asked Alice. 


74 the queen of LITTLE 


To-morrow, I think, replied Trot, 
with happy eyes. They walked on for 
some distance in silence. 

“ I like that girl skipping the rope. I 
saw her out of the window before I ^was 
dressed this morning. Do you know 
who she is ? asked Alice. 

They had turned into Little Barrymore 
Street and were almost home. 

“ Why yes, that is Amy Lewis. Amy ! 
called Trot. 

Yes, I^m coming to meet you,^^ an- 
swered the little girl. Fm skipping to 
one hundred. Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, 
one hundred ! ” 

“Hasn’t she nice long braids?” said 
Alice, in a low tone. 

“ Yes, they’d make good skipping 
ropes, wouldn’t they ? They are just the 
color of the rope,” said Trot, laughing. 

The little girl came running up breath- 
lessly. “ Good-morning, Trot Angel, God 
bless you,” said she and threw her arms 
around Trot and kissed her. 

“ Good-morning, Amy. Do you know 
who this is ? ” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


75 


Yes, of course I do. Every girl in 
Little Barrymore Street knows she is 
here by this time. I guess I’ve had six 
girls tell me, anyway. I’m glad you’re 
not so small. I thought from what they 
said you’d belong to the infants.” 

Who are the infants ? ” asked Alice. 

Why, the tots who were talking to 
you through the fence this morning. 
They declared you were a little bit of a 
girl.” 

I’m eleven ; I’ll be twelve in Septem- 
ber,” added Alice, quickly. 

“ I’m twelve, too. I’m glad you’re 
old enough lo belong to our club.” 

I was wondering if there were any 
older girls around here for me to play 
with,” said Alice. 

“ You’ll have four besides me. Mr. 
Worthington always invites the five at 
once, only I’ve been more honored than 
any of them, haven’t I, Trot? ” 

'' Yes, indeed you have ! ” laughed 
Trot. 

“ How were you honored ? ” asked 
Alice. 


76 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


IVe slept in the Queen’s room,” re- 
plied Amy, and held up her head 
proudly. 

Do you mean in my bed ? ” asked 
Alice, blushina. ^^Do you call me the 
Queen ? ” 

Yes, Harry Atwood gave you the 
name, and we’ve all called you that 
since.” 

Is Harry Atwood a nice boy ? ” 

Yes he is, isn’t he. Trot ? ” 

“ Yes, a very nice boy, and the hand- 
somest little fellow you ever saw.” 

Did you know, I didn’t know any- 
thing about my room till I got here ? It 
was a perfect surprise,” said Alice. 

Yes, I know it was. It was the night 
Mr. Worthington got the letter saying 
you were not coming that I slept in your 
bed. I stayed to comfort him, he felt so 
disappointed.” 

Trot shook her head, but it was too 
late. 

Got what letter saying we were not 
coming ? ” asked Alice, her brown eyes 
large with surprise. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


77 


Oh, I thought of course she knew, 
Trot, or I wouldn’t have said anything 
for the world ! ” said Amy. 

“ Never mind,” replied Trot. “ It was 
natural you should think Alice knew 
about the invitation, even if she didn’t 
know about the room. It was two years 
ago, just after your uncle finished paint- 
ing your picture. Miss Alice. He wrote 
and invited your mother to come here on 
a long visit and bring you. He had a 
letter from your father saying it was im- 
possible for y^u to come.” 

And oh, Mr. Worthington was so dis- 
appointed,” said Amy. I stayed and 
comforted him. Harry didn’t stand be- 
fore me that time, did he. Trot? ” 

No, there was no one but blessed 
little Amy Lewis that Mr. Worthington 
wanted that night,” replied Trot. 

I was a little girl two years ago,” said 
Amy laughing. I wore my hair in curls 
then, didn’t I, Trot?” 

“Yes, you were just as pretty and cun- 
ning as you could be, Amy.” 

“ I think you’re real pretty now,” said 


78 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Alice. I’d give up my curls in a min- 
ute if I could have your nice long 
braids.” 

Thank you. I’d exchange for your 
lovely hair in half a minute.” 

Come in and stay to lunch with Miss 
Alice, Amy,” said Trot as they reached 
the door. 

“ I’ll go and ask auntie and then come 
back,” replied Amy, and away she skipped 
down the street, her long braids floating 
out behind her. 

Mamma, I’ve had such an exciting 
morning ! Oh, such an exciting morn- 
ing ! ” cried Alice, dropping into a chair 
as she came into her mother’s room. 

Well, take three long breaths before 
you begin to tell me about it,” replied 
Mrs. Carleton, laughing. 

I’ll begin at the very last of it. 
Mamma, did you know Uncle Edwin in- 
vited us here two years ago and papa 
wrote him we couldn’t come? ” 

The bright smile on Mrs. Carleton’s 
face faded. “Yes, Alice, I knew about 
it.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


79 


“ But you didn’t know about his fur- 
nishing the room for me? ” 

“ No, but I understood last night that 
he must have meant it for a surprise for 
us if we had come at that time.” 

Did papa know about the room? ” 

No, I do not think he did. I will 
tell you something, sweetheart, and then 
we must put it entirely out of our hearts 
and minds and never speak of it again. 
Papa and Uncle Edwin used to be very 
dear friends. There was some trouble 
between them I cannot tell you about 
that. Uncle Edwin has been willing for 
years to forget and forgive, but papa 
could not seem to let it die out of his 
heart. He will, though, in time, I am 
sure. He has been forced to make the 
concession of letting us come here now. 
It will all come right in time.” 

Alice looked away out of the window, 
and did not speak for some time. 

'' Oh,” she said at last with a sob, I 
love papa, anyway. Poor dear papa, I 
love him ! ” 

“ Why, my blessing, of course you do I ” 


8o THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


said Mrs. Carleton, holding out her arms. 

Come here to me.’^ 

Held close to her mother’s heart Alice 
sobbed out an unhappiness that she could 
not understand. 

“Why does it make me cry so, Pre- 
cious ? ” she asked. 

“ You are disappointed in papa, Alice. 
This is the hard truth. We always want 
those we love to be noble and generous, 
and when they are not it seems to break 
our heart. I feel sure the great loss papa 
has had lately, and having to be sepa- 
rated from us, will make him more gener- 
ous in his thought of others. His world 
has been himself and Alice and mamma.” 

“ He’s been very, very good to his 
world, hasn’t he ? ” said Alice laughing 
and wiping away her tears. 

“Yes, indeed he has, but now he is 
going to find that his world is a larger 
and more beautiful place than he ever 
dreamed it could be.” 

“ See, mamma,” and sitting up Alice 
drew the five-dollar gold piece that Mr. 
Heyman had given her out of her pocket. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


8i 


Why, Alice, where did you get that ? 

Alice told the interesting story of her 
visit to Betty Holderman, and the dear 
old gentleman who had given her the 
money. 

“ Well, he 'is a dear old Lover ! ” said 
Mrs. Carleton, adopting the name the 
twins had called him. Of course you 
may keep it until you can give it away. 
I’ll go with you and see him and thank 
him to-morrow.” 

And will you buy a canary for me ? ” 
Yes, and buy a canary.” 

There was a gentle tap at the door and 
Trot came into the room. 

'^Amy has come back to lunch. Miss 
Alice. She is down in the garden.” 

'' Oh, I’m so glad. Tell her I’ll come 
right down. Just think how many new 
people I’ve seen since we came here, 
mamma 1 You know I’ve always enjoyed 
meeting new people ? I’m going to buy a 
little book and write down all the names 
of all the new people, and what I think 
about each one.” 

'' You are always writing things down 


82 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


in books ! Mrs. Carleton said, laughing. 
“ I never knew any one with such a 
mania for recording everything.” 

Yes, and I’m going to get a book and 
write down all the names of the different 
kinds of flowers in the garden, too, 
mamma. There are two hundred differ- 
ent kinds, I counted them.” 

Well, that will be worth while,” re- 
plied her mother. ‘‘You might press 
one of each kind.” 

“ I haven’t told you half the things 
that happened this morning, yet,” Alice 
said, as she crossed the room to the door. 

“ We’ll have another good talk to- 
night, sweetheart.” 

“ Amy has long braids way below her 
waist, mamma.” 

“ Well, run on down, she’ll wonder 
why you do not come.” 

“ She’s a very clever girl. I think I 
shall like her better than any girl I ever 
knew.” And away Alice ran singing, 

“ Oh, I am so happy, so happy and free, 

Little birdies, brothers all, sing with me.” 

“Yes, she is happy,” Mrs. Carleton 


BARRYMORE STREET 83 


said to herself. “ It is childlike and true 
soon to forget sorrow and disappoint- 
ment.^’ 

And as she knelt by the trunk and 
went on with her unpacking Mrs. Carle- 
ton sang, 

“ Oh, I am so happy, so happy and free. 

Little birdies, brothers all, sing with me,” 


VIII 


POOR LITTLE MR. BETTS 

THERE are you, Amy?’' Alice 
called, as she ran out into the 
^ ^ garden. 

“ Oh, here in the arbor. Come and 
see what my dear funny little father is 
doing ! ” 

Guided by Amy’s laugh, Alice ran 
down a little path and under a thicket of 
many vines came to an arbor that she 
had not discovered when in the garden 
in the morning. 

On the bench at one side of the arbor 
Mr. Betts sat eating a large slice of bread 
and molasses. Beside him on the bench 
was a small pitcher and a plate of bread. 

Now look here, it isn’t fair to hunt 
me out and then laugh at me,” shouted 
the little man above Amy’s and Alice’s 
screams of laughter. What is there so 
funny about eating bread and molasses, 
84 


BARRYMORE STREET 85 


I^d like to know ? I was brought up on 
it, and I like it. I came out here to 
study. I’ve got a snarl to untangle in 
my business, and I wanted to eat my 

lunch in peace away from ” 

Away from Mrs. Betts,” said Amy. 
She ran up to the little man and put her 
arms around his neck. ‘‘ It was mean to 
laugh at my little father, but I couldn’t 
help it I ” 

‘‘Well, go away botli of you. There 
are times when I am too busy for non- 
sense and this is one of them.” 

Amy stepped back quickly. “ Why, I 
really believe you are angry ! I never 
saw you angry before ! ” 

The little man’s face was very red. 
“ No, I’m not angry, but I want to be left 
alone. I have matters to straighten out 
in my business, I tell you.” 

“Oh, Mr. Betts, I beg your pardon for 
laughing,” said Alice. “I like bread 
and molasses too, and I think it is nice 
to eat it out here in this lovely 
arbor.” 

“ Help yourself, darling,” said Mr. 


86 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Betts, absent-mindedly, and pushed the 
pitcher towards her. 

“ He really is very troubled about 
something,’^ said Amy. “ Come, we 
must go and leave him.’’ And the little 
girls with serious faces walked out of the 
arbor and left Mr. Betts to eat his lunch 
undisturbed. 

I never saw him when he couldn’t 
laugh over anything you laughed at,” 
said Amy, as they walked away. I feel 
real anxious about him.” 

‘‘Why did you call him father?” 
asked Alice. “ Does he like to have you 
do that? ” 

“Yes, he does. Why, we’re the best 
friends. I do feel so anxious about him ! ” 

“ It will not do any good to feel anx- 
ious,” replied Alice, philosophically. 
“ We mustn’t tell any one where he is, 
then he’ll not be disturbed again while 
he thinks.” 

“I’m glad Mr. Worthington is coming 
home so soon,” said Amy. “He trusts 
Mr. Betts. It would be terrible if any- 
thing went wrong with his business.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 87 


Oh, don’t let us be afraid. We can 
help Mr. Betts most by being sure he can 
untangle the snarl.” 

Amy looked at Alice quickly. “ Yes, 
I suppose we can. Mr. Worthington 
always says when any one is sad or afraid, 
^ Ten fearless thoughts are worth a million 
fearful ones.’ ” 

“ That’s a very good motto,” said Alice. 

I’m going to write that down in my 
book.” 

“ What book ? ” asked Amy, with 
interest. 

‘^Why, I’m going to get a book and 
write down the names of all the inter- 
esting new people I’ve met since I came 
here, and then write things they say and 
what I think about them.” 

“ Why, won’t that be interesting ! I 
believe I’ll start one too,” said Amy. 

Are you going to put me into your 
book ? ” 

Yes, of course I shall.” 

“ What will you say about me? ” asked 
Amy, putting her arm around Alice. 

“ I will say that I think I shall like 


88 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


you more than any girl I ever knew, and 
that you are very clever/’ 

“ Oh, I’m not clever ! I hope you will 
like me, though. I’ve loved you for two 
years, dearly.” 

Ever so many have said that to me 
since I came. Why did you love me ? ” 

“ Because your Uncle Edwin talked so 
much about you. He said he knew from 
your picture you were just like your 
mother, when she was a little girl. He 
always calls your mother ‘ little sister.’ 
Is she small ? ” 

“ No, she is beautiful and tall. There 
she is now, coming to meet us on the 
path from the house.” 

Isn’t she lovely ! ” exclaimed Amy, 
stopping on the walk. Oh, isn’t she 
lovely ! ” 

Yes, she is. Every one thinks so,” 
said Alice, candidly. 

Mrs. Carleton, dressed in a thin blue 
lawn, came down the walks between the 
flower beds. 

Mamma, here we are,” called Alice. 

“ And is this the new friend ? ” said 


BARRYMORE STREET 89 


Mrs. Carleton, holding out her hand to 
Amy as she came up. I’m glad Alice 
is to have a little girl to play with. She 
has been with older people so much I 
am afraid she is a little old for her age.” 

“ Amy says there are ever so many 
nice girls around here and she will bring 
them all to see me,” said Alice. 

“ Yes, I will, but you will not have a 
chance to be dull when Harry Atwood 
gets home.” 

“ Won’t it be funny to live in the same 
house with a boy, mamma? ” 

Yes indeed, it will seem odd to us. 
We have always lived so quietly.” 

Oh, I think your mother is so 
lovely ! ” said Amy, in a whisper, to 
Alice, as Mrs. Carleton walked on before 
them. “ I’d be perfectly happy if I had 
a mother like yours. Auntie is a dear, 
but she is, oh, she is so plain ! Why 
can’t every one be beautiful, as flowers 
are,” she added, aloud. 

Mrs. Carleton turned around, smiling. 
“ Every one should be as beautiful as a 
flower, dear, and some time, I believe, 


90 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


through the spirit of truth and love, 
mankind will be transformed/^ 

I should like to live in that some- 
time,’^ said Amy, drawing a long breath. 

But I don’t know ; there’s little Mr. 
Betts, see how plain he is. I wouldn’t 
have his face changed for the world.” 

I wouldn’t either,” said Alice, laugh- 
ing. Think of that dear big nose ! 
He wouldn’t be Mr. Betts if he didn’t 
have that nose, would he? ” 

Just then Trot Angel came out on the 
balcony and called. 

Would you like to have your lunch 
served on a little table in the arbor? ” 

Oh no ! ” cried Amy quickly and 
then stopped. 

No, oh no, we want to eat in the 
house I ” called Alice. 

“ Why, I think it would be delightful 
to eat out of doors,” said Mrs. Carleton. 

What is your objection to the arbor ? ” 
''Keep still. Precious! We can’t eat 
there I No, Trot, we want to eat in the 
house,” she called. 

Trot turned with a look of wonder and 


BARRYMORE STREET 


91 


disappointment and went into the 
house. 

“You mustn^t say anything, mamma. 
Mr. Betts is in the arbor and he is 
troubled about something, and he wants 
to be left alone to think. 

“ He’s eating bread and molasses and 
thinking,” said Amy giggling. 

Mrs. Carleton laughed out merrily. 
“ Is he really? ” 

“ He didn’t think it was funny for us 
to laugh,” said Alice. 

“ He will to-morrow, or when he gets 
over being troubled,” said Amy. “ I 
never knew him to be cross before.” 

Trot served at lunch, sitting at the head 
of the table in a handsome light silk 
dress. 

“ Mrs. Betts and I take turns serving,” 
she answered Mrs. Carleton’s quick look 
of surprise. “ She is always at the din- 
ner table and I am here at lunch. When 
Mr. Worthington is home for any length 
of time we have a regular waitress, but 
we are much happier when we do every- 
thing but the cooking ourselves.” 


92 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ You are a very happy family, I have 
discovered that,” replied Mrs. Carleton. 
“ My brother wrote me that he had one 
of the happiest homes in the world. I 
never understood how that could be when 
he had no family. I imagined him liv- 
ing alone in this great house with only 
servants to attend him.” 

Well, so he does. I’m his servant,” 
said Trot laughing. I serve him gladly, 
and he pays me a salary.” 

<<Why Trot Angel, you know you’re 
not a servant ! ” said Amy blushing. 

Not one bit more than if you were Mr. 
Worthington’s daughter. Did Trot tell 
you how she came to live here, Mrs. 
Carleton ? ” 

Oh spare me, Amy ! Spare me ! ” 
cried Trot. 

Please let her tell about it,” said Alice. 

No, no, I shall leave the table if she 
does ! ” 

‘‘It is as interesting as any story you 
ever read,” said Amy. “I’ll tell you 
some time when we’re alone. I love you, 
Trotty.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


93 


'' I don't believe it," said Trot. I 
wish every one could forget I ever had a 
story. I get so tired of hearing it re- 
peated. The end of the story is I live 
here and help Mrs. Betts keep house for 
the dearest, best man that ever lived." 

There was a silence of several moments, 
and then Trot added : No, it isn't the 
end of the story, for Tm thinking of go- 
ing away." 

“ Going away? Why, Trot, you know 
you are not thinking of going away 
either," said Amy. 

Yes, I am thinking seriously of going 
to Australia," replied Trot. She looked 
at Alice in a funny way, half closing her 
eyes. 

Alice opened her eyes very wide. Her 
mind struggled to put two and two of an 
interesting mystery together. 

'^Yes," said Trot, folding her arms 
across her breast and speaking in a deep 
tone. '' I think it would be grand to live 
on a big ranch in Australia, and have 
horses and ride like the wind, and forget 
there was such a thing as a city. I've 


94 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


been thinking of it for a long, long 
time.” 

Who talks like that? ” asked Amy. 

You ought to go on the stage, Trot. 
That was well done,” said Mrs. Carleton, 
laughing. 

“ Oh, I know ! ” cried Alice, clapping 
her hands. “ I know who you’re talking 
like, — like the young man at the office.” 

‘‘Well, you needn’t bid me good-bye 
just yet. Miss Alice. I’ll tell you in time 
for a sweet kiss.” Trot looked radiantly 
happy as she said this. 

“ It isn’t polite to talk in riddles. Trot,” 
said Amy. 

“ No, it isn’t,” Trot answered, laughing. 
“ Isn’t it strange Mr. Betts didn’t come 
home to lunch,” she added, after a mo- 
ment. 

Amy and Alice looked steadfastly at 
their plates. 

“ He may have been too busy to spare 
the time,” Mrs. Carleton replied. “ Does 
he usually lunch with Mr. Worthing- 
ton ? ” 

“ Yes, always. We do have the jolliest 


BARRYMORE STREET 


95 


times at lunch. We are always having 
good times when Mr. Worthington is at 
home. As our dear old cook says, ‘ He's 
like the sun in this house, he is.' " 


IX 


A HEXAGON OF GIRLS 

W HEN Alice and Amy had fin- 
ished lunch they went out into 
the garden again and walked by 
the arbor to see if Mr. Betts were still 
there. He was gone and all trace of his 
solitary lunch was gone also. 

There is Mrs. Betts at the dining- 
room window. I^m going to speak to 
her and incidentally find out if she 
knows that he has been home” said 
Amy. 

“ How did you know that word inci- 
dentally ? asked Alice, looking at Amy 
with new respect. 

Why, a girl twelve years old ought 
not to use baby words, replied Amy, 
laughing. I do not often use large 
words, but I have quite an extensive 
vocabulary, auntie says.’^ 

Well, mamma thinks I^m old for my 

96 


BARRYMORE STREET 


97 


age, but I'm not half as old as you are I " 
exclaimed Alice. 

‘‘Oh, auntie says girls are all old for 
their age, nowadays. I read everything 
the grown-ups do, so why shouldn’t I 
know things ? ” said Amy. 

“ I only read children’s books. Papa 
and mamma never let me read older sto- 
ries.” 

Amy put her arm around Alice. 
“ Well, I’m glad they don’t. Perhaps if 
I had a papa and mamma I would not 
be permitted to either. The other girls I 
know don’t read the books I do.” 

“ Why do you read them if you think 
it is wrong to, even if your aunt does let 
you ? ” asked Alice quickly. 

“ I don’t think it is exactly wrong, but 
it is like having silk dresses and a gold 
watch now. What is there left to have 
after a while ? ” 

“ Have you silk dresses and a gold 
watch ? ” 

“Yes, auntie is so foolish. But I 
hardly ever wear them, the girls would 
make fun of me if I did. Auntie says 


98 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


the more clothes she buys me the plainer 
I dress. Wait a moment till I speak to 
Mrs. Betts. Listen to my diplomacy. 
Oh, Mrs. Betts, isn’t Mr. Betts coming 
home to lunch ? ” called Amy. 

I’m sure I don’t know. I’m begin- 
ning to feel real anxious about him. He 
never stayed away without sending up 
word before,” replied Mrs. Betts. 

She doesn’t know he’s been here ! ” 
said Alice in a whisper. 

“ I’ll go over home and telephone to 
the office and see if he is coming, if you 
would like to have me.” 

Why, you might do that, Amy. I 
never thought of that,” said Mrs. Betts, 
looking greatly relieved. 

'' Come, you go with me,” said Amy. 
‘‘ We’ll telephone and make him give 
some answer to relieve her mind. I 
knew there was something serious the 
matter.” 

Amy lived in a beautiful house with a 
brown stone front on the corner of West- 
field Terrace and Little Barrymore Street. 

“ I expected you would ask me to tell 


BARRYMORE STREET 


99 


you Trot’s story the moment we were 
alone,” she said to Alice as they were 
hurrying down the street. 

“ Why, Trot asked you not to tell. I 
don’t want to hear it if she doesn’t want 
me to.” 

“ Oh, she meant not to tell it before her ; 
everybody knows about it. There isn’t 
time to tell it now, but promise me you’ll 
not let any of the other girls tell it. I 
make a better story of it than any of the 
other girls.” 

“ I haven’t even seen any of the other 
girls yet,” said Alice laughing. 

You will before the day is past.” 

“ All right. I’ll promise to let you tell 
me Trot’s story.” And then they ran up 
the steps of the brown stone house and 
Amy rang the bell. 

Our butler has been with auntie for 
twenty years. He’s an old pet. I rang 
so you could see him. I wish you’d 
speak to him when we go in, it will please 
him.” 

The door was presently opened by a 
thin tall man in a handsome livery. 

L. or C. 


loo THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ This is Miss Alice Carleton, Henry. 
You know who she is? ” said Amy. 

Well yes, I do know,^’ Henry replied 
smiling. 

‘‘ I’m very glad to meet you,” said 
Alice, giving him her hand. 

“ Thank you, we’ve been looking for- 
ward to seeing you for some time.” 

Isn’t he nice? ” said Alice as she fol- 
lowed Amy up the stairs. I’ll write 
him down in my book.” 

‘‘ I know who you will write down in 
your book,” said Amy, laughing. “ My 
aunt, she is a character ! ” 

Will I like her?” 

No, but you’ll be interested in her, 
she’s so odd. And I know another you’ll 
write down ; the lamplighter on this 
street.” 

Oh, I saw him last night. Yes, I 
will write him down. Mamma and I 
both noticed what a dear good face he had.” 

Miss Amy ? ” called the butler from 
the foot of the stairs. 

Yes, Henry.” 

“ I forgot to tell you there are several 


BARRYMORE STREET 


lOl 


young ladies waiting for you in the li- 
brary/^ 

“ Thank you, Henry. He means the 
girls. We’ll hurry and use the telephone 
and then pounce on them.” 

Alice sat down and watched Amy 
admiringly as she rang the bell and pres- 
ently began speaking through the tele- 
phone. 

^‘Is this Mr. Betts? Well, Mr. Betts, 
are you coming home to lunch ? Your 
wife is anxious. Oh, all right, good-bye ! 
It is something very serious,” Amy said, 
turning to Alice. He answered me 
just as short ! ” 

What did he say ? ” 

He said to tell her he would not be 
home before ten or eleven o’clock to- 
night.” 

Well, don’t let us worry, let us hope,” 
said Alice. 

What a philosopher you are, you 
lovely thing ! ” laughed Amy, catching 
Alice into her arms and kissing her. “ I 
suppose that darling mamma of yours has 
taught you not to worry?” 


102 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Yes, mamma thinks it is wicked to 
worry. She won’t let herself or let me 
worry about papa.” 

I wish she’d teach me not to. Auntie 
is one steady fuss, morning, noon and 
night, and I’m just as bad. Come, let us 
go now and pounce on the girls.” 

They went down a broad hall and 
Amy pulled aside the heavy curtains. 

Peek in ; don’t they look cozy ? ” she 
whispered. 

Alice stood in the folds of the curtains 
and looked into the library. Sitting in 
the broad window-seat and in easy chairs 
were four girls, each with a book in her 
hand, busily reading, and all as still as 
mice. It was a very pretty picture. 

“ The one in the window with the blue 
cushions is Bertha Vinton,” whispered 
Amy. She is my particular. The one 
in the big leather chair is Daphne Soule ; 
the one in the other window is Ruth 
Hardy. She dances like a dream. And 
that one doubled up like a jack-knife is 
Helen Easton.” 

The girl doubled up like a jack-knife 


BARRYMORE STREET 


103 


suddenly sprang to her feet and threw 
her book on the table. 

“ Girls/ ^ she cried, “ I hear some one 
breathing. I believe Amy is hiding some- 
where, and isn’t out of the house at all ! ” 
You stay here in the folds of the cur- 
tain,” whispered Amy, ‘‘ and I’ll go in. 
Presently I’ll draw the curtain as though 
you were a picture and surprise them. 
Oh, you donkey, Helen ! ” laughed Amy, 
running into the room. “ What mon- 
strous ears you have, my dear I ” 

The better to scent you out, my love,” 
replied Helen quickly. I knew I heard 
you ! ” 

“ Why Amy Lewis, you despicable 
thing ! Have you been hiding from us 
all this time ? ” exclaimed Bertha Vinton. 

No, I haven’t. I haven’t been in the 
house ten minutes.” 

“ Your aunt said you had gone out to 
lunch but she didn’t know where,” said 
Daphne Soule. Imagine mamma’s not 
knowing where I am ! ” 

Or mine not knowing where I am ! ” 
said Ruth Hardy. 


104 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


How long have you been here ? ’’ 
asked Amy. 

“ Oh, only half an hour,'’ replied 
Helen. '' We came to get you to go with 
us and call on the Queen.” 

‘‘ I’ve seen the Queen,” said Amy. 

I just came from her royal presence.” 

“ Amy Lewis, how mean of you ! 
Why didn’t you wait for the rest of us? ” 
cried Daphne. 

“ Why, I had an invitation to lunch 
with her, and I really couldn’t refuse it, 
you know,” replied Amy with a grand 
air. 

“ You always get in ahead of us on 
everything, Amy,” said Helen. 

Is she as beautiful as her picture ? ” 
asked Ruth Hardy. 

‘‘ Yes, more beautiful, because she’s 
alive,” said Amy giggling and glancing 
hastily towards the door. “ But oh girls, 
she doesn’t begin to compare with her 
mother ! She’s the most beautiful woman 
I ever saw ! She’s like a, — oh, I don’t 
know wh^t — she’s a dream ! ” 

Mr. Worthington always said his sis- 


BARRYMORE STREET 


105 


ter was beautiful/’ said Ruth. “ His little 
sister he calls her.” 

“ She isn’t little though. She’s grand 
and tall. She’s my Queen ! Wait a 
moment, Alice gave me a picture of her- 
self. I left it out in the hall.” She ran 
across the room and hastily drew aside 
the curtains and Alice, rosy with blushes, 
stood before them. 

The girls simply looked at her with 
open eyes of amazement and said noth- 
ing. 

I wish you would have mamma for 
Queen, I’d much rather be just a girl,” 
said Alice. And then the girls crowded 
round her and shook hands and kissed 
her, all talking at once. 

We’re six now instead of five,” said 
Ruth Hardy. Six is a nice number, 
three twos.” 

It is a hexagon,” said Amy. Let us 
call ourselves ^ The Hexagon,’ shall we, 
girls ? We’ve never had a name for our 
club.” The girls with one voice agreed. 

Amy, you are so clever now, what 
will you be five years from now?” 


io6 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


said Bertha Vinton, patting her on the 
back. 

111 be eighteen almost, think of it ! 
replied Amy. 

“ I wonder what well all be like five 
years from now,'’ said Daphne, medita- 
tively, sitting on the arm of a chair. 111 
be eighteen too, and coming out.” 

“ Oh, come out now, all of you, and 
let us play tag on Westfield Terrace,” 
said Amy smartly. 

“ I must go home. Mamma thinks I'm 
in the garden, you know, Amy,” said Alice. 

'' All right, we'll all go with you, 
may we ? I want the girls to see your 
mother.” 

'' Yes, and I wish you'd all say you'd 
have her for Queen and not me.” 

We'll have to wait till Harry Atwood 
comes home, and see what he says,” 
said Ruth Hardy, laughing. He chris- 
tened you.” 

I guess auntie is asleep, so you won't 
have to bother to see her to-day,” Amy 
said to Alice, as they all went down the 
stairs together. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


107 


I’d like to see her,” replied Alice. 

I’m real curious about her.” 

“ I’ll get you an unmounted photograph 
of her to paste in your book when you 
write what you think of her. I know 
what you’ll be when you grow up, Alice, 
an author. You are so interested in 
character study. Don’t you think we 
are all nice girls ? ” she added laughing. 

“ Yes, I do. Just think, I never had 
girls to play with before ! ” 

Whom do you like best, me? ” 

Alice smiled but did not reply. 

“ I wonder who it is, — Daphne ? ” 
Alice shook her head. “ Not Bertha, 
she’s my particular, you can’t have her.” 

“ I don’t want her,” said Alice. Oh, 
I like you all best ! Don’t question me, 
Amy ! ” 

“ It is little Ruth Hardy, that’s who it 
is ! Well, she has better manners than 
any of us. Your mother will like her 
best, too. I’m going to be gentle and 
polite so your mother will like me. 
Don’t tell her I’m rude, will you ? ” 

“ I don’t think you are rude.” 


io8 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


I^m not like Ruth. We call her 
^ Lady Ruth ’ because she has such per- 
fect manners. Just look what a pretty 
walk she has ! Oh dear, I’m jealous ! 
I know your mother will like her best ! ” 

“ Doesn’t the Hexagon look nice on 
promenade?” said Daphne Soule, as 
they went down the street. Ruth and 
Bertha, Daphne and Helen, Amy and 
Alice.” 

You’ll have to say Ruth and Alice,” 
said Amy. They are going to be par- 
ticulars.” 

Ruth turned and smiled at Alice. I 
think we’d have better times together, 
Amy, if you didn’t talk so much about 
particulars,” said Ruth. “ In a Hexagon 
one side is just as strong as another.” 

“ Yes, that’s so, Amy,” said Helen 
Easton. “You and Bertha will have to 
give up being particulars and stand for 
the common good of all.” 

“ My ! what a grand speech ! ” said 
Daphne Soule, laughing. 


X 


IN THE MUSIC ROOM 

“^"JTTHAT a beautiful voice! Is 
that your mamma singing ? ” 

^ " asked Ruth. 

Yes, oh, I’m so glad ! She hasn’t 
sung before since our piano had to be 
sold ! ” replied Alice. 

The girls exchanged questioning 
glances, but no one said anything. 

There is John Holderman. Oh, 
John, come and unlock the gate and let 
us come in through the garden,” called 
Amy. 

“ What a band of beauty I ” exclaimed 
John Holderman as he threw open the 
great iron gate. “ Here, Miss Alice, this 
particular key was made expressly for 
you.” 

Was it really I ” said Alice, taking 
the key. 

Yes. There has always been an ex- 

109 


no THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


cuse for a garden here, but it was made 
over into its present state of excellence 
two years ago, when we were expecting 
you. I suppose these are your ladies in 
waiting? ” 

“Yes, we are the following of the 
Queen,” said Ruth Hardy laughing. 

“ Well, you’re as nice a set of girls as I 
ever saw. I expect Mr. Worthington 
will be perfectly happy, when he sees you 
all in this garden with the Queen in your 
midst.” 

“ I wish everybody would stop calling 
me the Queen ! ” said Alice. “ I don’t 
like it at all.” 

“ Oh, yes, you do,” replied John Hol- 
derman, laughing. “Why, it’s a very 
pretty story, yes it is, as Mr. Betts would 
say.” 

“ Oh, hear that angel’s voice ! ” said 
Amy, clasping her hands rapturously. 
“ Come on, girls, let us go in so we can 
hear her better.” 

They went in through the dining-room 
and the wide beautiful hall to the music 
room. Trot Angel sat at the piano play- 


BARRYMORE STREET 


111 


ing the accompaniment, and Mrs. Carleton 
stood with the music in her hand sing- 
ing. She smiled and bowed as the girls 
entered the room one by one, but sang on 
to the end of her song. 

“ Oh, that was beautiful ! ” they cried 
in chorus. Please sing again, Mrs. 
Carleton.’’ 

This is the Hexagon, mamma. Isn’t 
that a fine name for us ? Amy thought 
of it,” said Alice, as her mother came 
forward with outstretched hand to greet 
the girls. 

What nice girls you all are,” said Mrs. 
Carleton looking from one bright face to 
another. Sweetheart, do you realize how 
fortunate you are to meet all these nice 
girls so soon ? ” 

“ Oh, she has really belonged to our 
club for two years, Mrs. Carleton,” said 
Bertha Vinton. 

Yes, she has been our little Queen for 
two years,” said Ruth Hardy, putting her 
arm around Alice. ^^We are all Mr. 
Worthington’s girls, you know.” 

“Yes,” said Daphne Soule, “ we feel 


112 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


perfectly at home in this house. We are 
here often when Mr. Worthington is at 
home.” 

‘‘Oh, isn’t Alice’s mamma lovely!'^ 
whispered Bertha Vinton to Amy. 

“ Yes, and doesn’t she look like Mr. 
Worthington when she smiles ? ” replied 
Amy. 

“ Everyone seems to adore my brother,” 
said Mrs. Carleton. “ He should be a 
very happy man with so many dear little 
friends.” 

“ He says he likes children better than 
grown-ups,” replied Daphne Soule. “ But 
our mothers and fathers all love Mr. 
Worthington too. They would come 
here as often as we do, if they were 
invited.” 

“ Why, Daphne ! ” exclaimed Helen 
Easton. 

“ Well, they would ! ” said Daphne. 
“ My mother has never been invited here 
but once.” 

“No, that is true,” said Trot Angel, 
turning from the piano : “ Mr. Worth- 
ington has only three friends, beside the 


BARRYMORE STREET 


children whom he invites here often. 
You’ll see Friday when his steamer gets 
in how many good friends he has though.” 

“If he liked the grown-ups as well as 
he does children he wouldn’t belong to 
us as he does now,” said Amy. 

“ Oh, I didn’t mean I’d have him any 
different,” said Daphne in confusion. 

“ Of course you didn’t, dear ! ” said 
Mrs. Carleton. “I understood just what 
you meant.” And then Mrs. Carleton 
went back to the piano and sang song 
after song to her enthusiastic little audi- 
ence. 

“You sing every bit as well as 
Melba ! ” cried Amy. “ Why, I never 
heard any one but Melba sing way up 
there as clear as you do ! ” 

“ Mamma has always sung well ever 
since she was a little tiny girl,” said 
Alice in a low tone to Ruth Hardy. 
“ She studied with the very best teachers 
in New York ever so many winters before 
papa lost his money. She’s had a great 
many chances to sing in public, too, but 
papa wouldn’t let her.” 


114 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Why not ? ” asked Ruth. Alice shook 
her head. 

I don’t know unless he was jealous. 
Perhaps I oughtn’t to think so, but I 
have thought so.” 

Jealous ! Why, I should think he’d 
be glad to have her sing when she has 
such a beautiful voice ! ” 

** Well, you see papa had a great 
deal of money and he thought, — oh, I 
don’t know what he thought ! ” — Alice 
stopped with a quick little breath and 
caught hold of Ruth’s hands. Don’t 
tell the girls what I have said, will you ? 
It isn’t right to say it, you know. My 
papa is the dearest man, and oh, I love 
him and want him every day ! ” 

“ No, of course I won’t tell the girls,” 
said Ruth. 

It isn’t true or right to think any but 
the very best thoughts about any one. 
My mother says only our good thoughts 
about people count for anything, any way.” 

“ So does my mother say that to me. 
I’m always ashamed clear down to my 
toes when I criticise any one.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


115 


The other girls had surrounded Mrs. 
Carleton and all were chattering like 
magpies. 

“ Come,” said Ruth, I want to hear 
what they are saying. I think they are 
planning about our lamplighter’s birth- 
day surprise.” 

I’m going to give him a pot of 
daisies,” Daphne Soule was saying, as 
they joined the group. 

Well, I want to give him something 
for his little Tommy,” said Amy. Just 
think, Mrs. Carleton, as poor as he is he 
has taken a little boy from the Orphans’ 
Home.” 

Why, the dear man ! Perhaps he is 
so rich in love that he doesn’t feel poor,” 
replied Mrs. Carleton. She held out her 
hand to Alice. '' You know the lamp- 
lighter, we spoke to on the corner last 
night, darling? All these girls know 
him well and are planning a birthday 
surprise for him. What are you going to 
give him ? ” 

'' Oh, could I give him that five dollars 
Mr. Heyman gave me, mamma ? ” 


ii6 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“We only give little presents,” said 
Helen Easton. 

“ No indeed, you canT give five dol- 
lars ! ” exclaimed Bertha Vinton. 

Alice jumped up and down clapping 
her hands. “ Why, I must give it, girls ! 
I just have to give it! That was 
the agreement, don’t you remember, 
mamma? ” 

“Yes, so it was,” Mrs. Carleton an- 
swered, laughing. She told the girls the 
story of Alice’s visit to the odd old gen- 
tleman and the stipulation he had made 
when giving the money. 

“ It sounds just like a fairy tale,” said 
Daphne Soule. “ I guess I’ll go and see 
him some day and see if he will give me 
a five.” 

“ Put the money in the bank for 
little Tom, Alice,” said Amy. “ I’ll 
beg another five of auntie to put with 
it.” 

“ Beg ! You know very well your 
aunt gives you everything you ask for, 
Amy ! ” said Bertha Vinton. 

“ That will be an excellent plan,” said 


BARRYMORE STREET 


117 


Mrs. Carleton. You have a clever little 
head on your shoulders, Amy.” 

Amy blushed with delight. “ Yes, 
she’s the one who always thinks of 
things,” said Ruth. “ The rest of us 
simply follow around after Amy.” 

“ We’ll have to follow the Queen now,” 
said Daphne. Miss Amy Lewis will 
have to take a back seat.” 

Amy wants us to choose you for our 
Queen, Mrs. Carleton,” said Bertha Vin- 
ton. “ I second the motion.” 

Why choose me for your Queen ? ” 
Mrs. Carleton laughed. “ What have I 
done to receive such an honor? ” 

You’ve been your own beautiful 
precious self, mamma,” said Alice put- 
ting her arms around her mother’s neck. 

I wish you would let them call you 
Queen, I’d much rather be just a girl.” 

O do, Mrs. Carleton, we’ll have such 
fun ! ” said Amy. “ We’ll have a grand 
coronation, and a mask ball afterwards 
and a cake-walk to wind up with.” The 
girls screamed with laughter. 

“ No, I object! I’ll never consent to 


ii8 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


be your Queen if you have a cake-walk, 
at my coronation ! said Mrs. Carleton, 
when she could make herself heard. 

“ Oh, that would be just for larks at 
the end, you know,’^ said Amy. See 
what an elegant long walk we’d have 
through from here into the drawing- 
room.” 

What do you think my brother will 
say if you dethrone Alice in this way ? ” 
‘‘ We can’t do it without Mr. Worth- 
ington’s consent,” said Ruth, looking as 
serious as though it was a matter of grave 
importance and not all for play. And 
Harry Atwood will be just furious, 
girls ! ” 

Why, let me see how many are mixed 
up in this treason, anyway ? ” said Mrs. 
Carleton. Hold up your hands, girls ; 
how many wish to crown me Queen ? ” 
Amy and Bertha each held up a hand 
very high, but Daphne and Helen and 
Ruth clasped their hands behind them. 

It wouldn’t be legal without Mr. 
Worthington’s consent,” said Daphne. 

'' It wouldn’t be right at all,” said 


BARRYMORE STREET 


119 


Helen decidedly. Why, Mr. Betts 
would never forgive us, girls.” 

“ Amy, you know you wouldn’t dare to 
meet Buttons when he comes home,” 
laughed Ruth, “ and everybody who 
knows about Alice. Why, there are so 
many who have called her the Queen 
ever since Mr. Worthington remodeled 
the garden and refurnished the house, 
when he expected her two years ago ! ” 

“ Well, he expected mamma too,” said 
Alice, and he loves her too.” 

I don’t care,” said Ruth excitedly, 
and with such force that she brought 
conviction to all. I love Mrs. Carleton 
too, and I think she’d make a beautiful 
Queen, but we can’t have her for Queen ! 
No one will like it at all. I know Mr. 
Worthington wouldn’t consent and he’ll 
be disappointed to think any one wanted 
to change and spoil the story ! ” 

Why Ruthie, I never saw you so 
wide awake ! ” laughed Bertha Vinton. 

I guess she is right, Amy, we’d offend 
everyone if we made the change.” 

Yes, you would offend everyone,” 


120 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


said Trot Angel from the music stool, 
where she had been quietly listening to 
the discussion. 

“ All right, I give up,” said Amy, 
blushing furiously. “ But let's have a 
coronation anyway and a masked ball, 
will you ? ” 

“ Yes, and well not give up the cake- 
walk,” laughed Mrs. Carleton, and away 
she danced with Amy down the long 
music room. I’ll be your friend, little 
girl, will that do ? ” 

Yes, I suppose so,” replied Amy. 
What is it, don’t you love my Alice ? ” 

Oh, yes I do, very much, but ” 

Amy hesitated. Yes, I’ll tell you the 
truth. I thought she’d feel too impor- 
tant having every one calling her the 
Queen all the time.” 

Oh, oh, was that it? ” 

“ Yes it was,” said Amy candidly. 

I’ve always been first with the girls. I 
know you won’t like me now, but it’s the 
truth. Daphne would tell you my reason 
the minute she had you alone. She saw 
through it all.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


121 


But Bertha ? questioned Mrs. Carle- 
ton, looking very grave. 

Bertha always sides with me. She’s 
my particular,” replied Amy. 

Mrs. Carleton shook her head and 
looked still more grave. 

I know you can’t love me now,” said 
Amy, her eyes filling with tears. “ If I 
had carried the day, and you had been 
crowned you would have loved me, but 
now you never will ! ” 

Mrs. Carleton laughed out merrily. 

Oh yes, I shall. Trot has been talking 
to me about you, dear child. Do you 
know what I think ? ” 

'^No, what do you?” said Amy, pull- 
ing her handkerchief out of her pocket 
and wiping her eyes. 

“ I think you are a girl with great 
strength of character. If you had a 
wise mother you would no doubt be 
wiser, but I do like you, Amy, and I am 
going to be your friend.” 

Oh thank you ! But don’t you 
think it was terrible of me to be so 
jealous ? ” 


122 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


*^Well, I think it was fortunate you 
did not carry the day and crown me 
Queen,” replied Mrs. Carleton smiling. 
“The honor of the position will not 
harm Alice. She is wonderfully free 
from self-importance ; really more so than 
I am. You will find her a very con- 
siderate, tender-hearted little Queen, 
Amy.” 


XI 


ALICE ON THE BALCONY 

I T was ten o'clock, that night, Alice 
had been in bed for an hour but 
was still wide awake. So many in- 
teresting things had happened and she 
had met so many new and interesting 
people. Over the garden the moon shone 
brightly, and her pretty room was almost 
as light as day. 

“ I guess I'll get up and go out on my 
balcony and look at the garden in the 
moonlight," Alice said to herself. “ I 
don't seem to want to go to sleep at all." 

She slipped out of bed, and softly 
opening the window, crept out on the 
tiny balcony overlooking the garden. 

“ Oh how lovely ! How lovely it is ! " 
said the little girl, throwing out her 
arms in a way she always did when glad. 
Wouldn't it be fun to be down there 

123 


124 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


and run and dance on the little paths. 
It seems like a dream ! 

All at once she heard a voice speaking 
quite clearly, just below the balcony. 

''Yes, I feel sure that Mr. Carleton 
cannot want to go clear to Australia. 
" It came to me like an inspiration. Trot, 
when I saw that poor little thing as she 
stood there looking at that map of 
Australia.'’ 

" O,” thought Alice, " I mustn't listen 
when they don't know I am here ! " 
But the next words held her atten- 
tion so completely that she could not 
stir. 

"You know that Mr. Worthington 
would do anything for Mr. Carleton, for 
his sister's sake, and now that he has 
been so unfortunate his opportunity has 
come." 

"Yes, but think what short notice he 
will have ! Hardly twenty-four hours 
between the arrival of his steamer and 
Mr. Carleton's sailing ! " 

" Why don't you go over to New York 
on the midnight train to-night and see 


BARRYMORE STREET 


125 


him? Just think how many it would 
make happy if he would consent ! ” 

I know it, and he needn’t despise my 
salary. It will do very well for a man 
to step into with a hope of promotion.” 

Yes, it will. How do you expect to 
succeed out there when you have been 
able to save so little here ? ” 

I have saved right along since I have 
loved you. Trot.” 

“Yes, good boy, you have.” Trot’s 
voice was very sweet and tender. 

“ I knew he was Trot’s lover ! I guessed 
it when he gave me that card at the 
steamer office I ” whispered Alice to herself. 

“ Trot, I just believe I will go over to 
New York to-night and have a talk with 
him ! If I could only persuade him to 
come here Mr. Worthington would be so 
grateful.” 

Alice crept quickly back through the 
open window, for the young man as he 
spoke sprang to his feet and walked out 
beyond the shadow of the balcony. 

“ Hello ! ” he exclaimed, with a long 
low whistle. 


126 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Alice knew that she was discovered 
and hastily slipping her red wrapper on 
over her night-dress she crawled out on 
the balcony again. 

I didn’t intend to listen,” she said 
in a low voice. Please don’t wake 
mamma, will you? I just came out to 
look at the moon and I heard you talk- 
ing, but I don’t know at all what you 
mean ! ” 

Trot stood at the young man’s side and 
as Alice said this they both laughed 
aloud. 

“Are you moon struck?” asked the 
young man. 

“ No,” said Alice indignantly. “ So 
much has happened to-day I just couldn’t 
forget it and go to sleep.” 

“ Let us tell her our plan,” said Trot. 

“ All right, perhaps she can tell us if 
her father is likely to consent. Why, I 
propose this, — to go over to New York 
and offer your father my position, and 
take his ticket for Australia and go my- 
self You see, unless he is very anx- 
ious to go, it would be an advantage all 


BARRYMORE STREET 


127 


around. I^d be out there where I long 
to be, and your father would be very 
well fixed, and with a chance of doing 
better/' 

“ Mr. Worthington would do anything 
for your father," said Trot. “ He loves 
him just as though he were his own 
brother, Tve heard him say so time and 
again." 

Alice shook her head. I don't be- 
lieve papa will do it," she said. But 
perhaps he would. Coax him to, won't 
you ? Oh, tell him it would make Alice 
so happy if he only would ! And we'll 
not tell mamma until we know." 

“ If he really wants to go it wouldn't 
be right to try to change his mind, you 
know," said Trot. 

But he doesnH want to go. Trot," said 
Alice. He told mamma he was going 
because he was desperate and he didn't 
know what else to do." 

“ Oh, nonsense ! No one has any right 
to go away in that spirit ! " said the 
young man. Now I'm desperate to go, 
simply because I want to." 


128 THE gUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ I know why you want to go, too,’^ 
said Alice, smiling down at him. 

“You naughty girl to listen to our 
love-making ! said Trot. 

“ Idl never, never tell,^’ said Alice. 
“ It was lovely ! Just like you read 
about in books, — the garden and the 
moon and all ! 

“ Oh, you romantic child ! Crawl in 
through that window and go to bed ! 

“Is he going to New York to see 
papa? 

The young man drew his watch from 
his pocket. “ Yes, I^m going to risk it 
and go. I shall have to go over to my 
boarding-place first, Trot.’^ 

“ Good-night,” said Alice. “ Idl not 
tell any one, and let me know the 
minute you get back from New York, 
wonT you? ” 

“Yes, I will come to you the moment 
I return. Good-night, my Queen.” The 
young man fell into a comical attitude 
of devotion, pressing his hand to his 
heart. 

“ Isn't she beautiful ? ” whispered Trot 


BARRYMORE STREET 


129 


as Alice disappeared laughing through 
the window. 

Yes, she’s really the most beautiful 
child I ever saw.” 

“ She’s just as dear and good as she is 
beautiful,” said Trot. And her mother, 
— well, you’d know they belong to dear 
Mr. Worthington ; they are just like 
him.” 


XII 


THE WONDERFUL NEWS 

LICE had strange dreams that 



night. The happenings of the 


eventful day just past jumbled 
together with all sorts of impossible 
nonsense. When she woke the sun was 
shining brightly into her room and the 
little silver clock on the mantel said that 
it was half past nine. 

Why, why didn't mamma call me ! " 
she exclaimed, and was about to spring 
out of bed when she saw on the pillow 
beside her a flat parcel, neatly tied with 
blue baby ribbon. There was a card 
under the ribbon, and in fancy letters 
these words : “ To Queen Alice, from her 
most loyal subject, Amy Lewis." Alice 
hastily untied the ribbon and there lay 
two beautiful morocco bound blank- 
books. 

“ Oh, I know what she gave me these 


BARRYMORE STREET 


131 


for ! ” said Alice, clapping her hands. 

Isn't she good ! They have gilt edges 
and are just what I want." Inside the 
cover of one of the books was a little 
note. 

Deak Alice, 

One book is for you to write in 
about the people you meet, and the other 
for you to write about the flowers you 
meet. 

Your loving friend, 

'^Amy Lewis." 

‘‘Oh, mamma?" called Alice. There 
was no answer. She jumped out of bed 
and ran and peeked into her mother's 
room. Everything was in perfect order. 

“ It looks as though she'd been up for 
hours," thought Alice, and hastily dress- 
ing, she ran down-stairs. 

Not a person could she find anywhere, 
even Lena, the cook, was not in the 
kitchen I She ran out into the garden, 
but no one could she find there. A bird 
that looked like Trot’s little friend 
See-you, was bathing on the edge of the 


132 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


fountain. He turned his head with an 
enquiring twit twee ! ” as Alice came 
near, then off he flew and lighting on the 
top of the syringa bush raised his little 
head and burst into song. 

“You darling/' said Alice. “ I know 
you are singing for me ! But, oh dear, 
where has every one gone ! Isn't it 
strange, something must have hap- 
pened." 

As she ran back to the house the 
thought came to her, “It is something 
about Mr. Betts," and the vision of the 
little man as he sat eating his solitary 
lunch of bread and molasses in the arbor 
came to her. 

“ Amy said she knew something had 
happened if he could look cross, and 
something has happened ! Oh, what can 
it be ! " 

The philosophy of common sense with 
which she had been nurtured from baby- 
hood by her wise mother, came to her 
instant relief. “I'll not believe anything 
terrible has happened. I'll believe it is 
something good ! " said Alice aloud. 


BARRYMORE STREET 133 


And if it should be anything that 
seems terrible I’ll believe something good 
will come out of it in the end.” The 
look of fear passed from her face. ‘‘ It is 
coming out right about papa, too, I half 
believe. Yes, I believe he’ll give up go- 
ing to Australia and take that young 
man’s place. Oh, oh, wouldn’t I be glad, 
and wouldn’t mamma be glad if we could 
live here always ! ” 

She went back into the still house and 
roamed about from room to room, and 
finally thinking, ‘‘ I’ll go and get my 
own breakfast and surprise Mrs. Betts,” 
she strolled out into the kitchen again. 
There sat Lena, the cook, holding on to 
her sides with both hands and puffing 
like a steam engine. 

‘‘Oh, my dear young lady ” she 

began, but could get no further. 

“ She looks exactly like a bag of meal 
tied in the middle,” thought Alice, and 
ridiculous as it may seem her next 
thought was, “ I’ll write about her in my 
new book, she’ll make such a funny one 
and I’ll have her picture, too.” All this 


134 the queen of LITTLE 

passed like a flash through Aliceas mind, 
for she said at once, — 

Why, Lena, where has every one gone 
and what has happened ? ” 

“Oh, my dear young lady,^’ began 
Lena again, and then catching her breath 
she said, — “ There, don’t you look troub- 
led, sweet, it is good that has come. Yes, 
the most amazing good ! ” 

Alice had to wait several moments be- 
fore Lena found voice to continue. “ It 
is to our Trot that good has come. Yes, 
God bless her. Mr. Betts rightly says 
‘ God bless her,’ and He has abundantly.” 

As Lena uttered this last sentence her 
breathing became normal, and in a voice 
a little above a whisper she said, — 

“ But what do you think has come to 
our girl ? A fortune. Miss Sweet ! A 
wonderful fortune ! ” 

“ Oh,” cried Alice clapping her hands 
and dancing about, “ tell me about it 
quick, Lena ! Please don’t stop again 
till you have told me everything.” 

“ You know her story and how she 
came to live here, don’t you ? ” Alice 


BARRYMORE STREET 


135 


remembered that she had promised Amy 
to hear Troths story first from her lips, 
but not waiting for an answer, Lena 
hurried breathlessly on — “ Yes, it was 
right down here our Trot lived, right 
down here in this street, all the years of 
her life till she was fourteen years old. 
She lived with what she supposed was 
her relation. She was no relation at all, 
but a person that had taken her out of an 
orphans^ home, and brought her up to be 
like a servant to them and abused her. 
When she was about like you, or perhaps 
older, Mr. Worthington, the grand soul, 
he learned how they was a treating her, 
from our Troths own lips he learned it. 
And he took her, like the tender shep- 
herd, and led her here out of harm’s 
way. Then he went to that orphans’ 
home where she used to live and he 
looked up all those records that tell about 
such unfortunate children and he finds 
that Trot has a real relation, — an uncle 
who lives way off in some place that 
has a fortune and not a living being to 
leave it to but our Trot. She’s known 


136 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


about it right along since she was little 
and so have we all, but land sakes alive, 
we haven't sensed it, and we don't now. 
We're all just dazed and stunned and 
nothing but Mr. Worthington's coming, 
and saying it is true will set us right. 
That uncle has died and left all his 
money to Trot I " 

“ Oh splendid ! " cried Alice. Where 
is mamma and Trot and Mrs. Betts and 
where were you ? " 

“ I just stepped around to Betty Hol- 
derman. John hadn't come over yet, so 
I had the both together when I told 
the good news. Mr. Heyman is coming 
over to dinner. He's one of our girl's 
best friends. And then I just stepped 
around to the market and ordered 
up a turkey and all the fittings for a 
regular Thanksgiving dinner. Your 
mother and the rest they all went 
off in a flutter with Mr. Betts to the 
office to see the papers, that say the 
uncle is dead and the money is all our 
Trot's." 

What was Mr. Betts so troubled about 


BARRYMORE STREET 


137 


yesterday ? It wasn’t about this, was it ? ” 
asked Alice. 

“ There now, yes it was ! ” laughed 
Lena, shaking like a mold of jelly. He 
told us how you two found him out in 
the arbor eating his lunch, and he 
couldn’t speak a civil word to you ! ” 

But why was he troubled about it ? ” 
said Alice. “ We thought something ter- 
rible must have happened.” 

“Why, don’t you see? What is good 
news for Trot is bad news for the rest of 
us. We’re going to lose our girl I that’s 
what it all comes to. I haven’t the heart 
to do a thing. I’ve done nothing but 
laugh and cry the whole morning, and 
whichever I begin I want to do the 
other.” 

“ Oh, I’m so glad for dear Trot ! Will 
you please get me a little breakfast, 
Lena? I’ve been up ever so long and 
I’m hungry.” 

“ There, you poor child ! And I prom- 
ised your mother I’d look out for you the 
minute you came down ! ” 


XIII 


DECOEATING THE HOUSE 

‘‘ TUST think, it is Friday and Mr. 

I Worthington is coming to-day ! So 
^ much has happened it doesn^t seem 
any time since the cable came, does it ? ’’ 

“ It has seemed long enough to me,” 
Mr. Betts replied, with a disconsolate 
look on his odd little face. 

Trot was arranging flowers for all the 
vases in the house. A pile of pansies 
and sweet peas lay before her on the din- 
ing-room table. Alice was out in the 
garden cutting roses for the music-room. 

“ I do hope you’ll cheer up before Mr. 
Worthington gets here, Mr. Betts,” laughed 
Trot. I think it is a mistaken idea of 
friendship to be so cast down over my 
good fortune.” 

“ I know well enough it’s wrong, yes, I 
know it is wrong. Trot,” said the little 
138 


BARRYMORE STREET 


139 


man. But God bless you, who can help 
it ? The minute I saw that long envelope 
come into the office I said to myself, 
* Here comes Trot’s fortune, and the light 
will go out of our house ! ’ ” 

Nonsense ! ” replied Trot impatiently. 

The light will never go out of any 
house where Mr. Worthington lives ! 
You seem to have completely forgotten 
the pleasure of having Alice and her 
mother here.” 

Oh, they will not stay long. I know 
Mr. Carleton well. Between you and me, 
Trot, he’s a mule.” 

I don’t believe it ! ” said Trot quickly. 
^^You haven’t any right to* hold that 
thought of him. It is just as bad to hold 
mulish thoughts of your brother as it is 
to be a mule.” 

Yes, so it is,” the little man replied 
laughing, so it is. Trot.” 

Trot held a bunch of sweet peas up be- 
fore her face. Why do you think Mrs. 
Carleton and Alice will not stay here? 
Mr. Carleton cannot send for them until 
he is established out there.” 


140 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


I don’t believe Mr. Carleton will 
ever go to Australia. Why is he hang- 
ing around New York? Why doesn’t he 
go if he is going? ” 

“ His ticket is bought.” 

“ I don’t believe it. I wouldn’t believe 
it unless I saw the ticket.” 

“ Well, I’ve seen the ticket,” said Trot, 
and hid her blushing face in the bunch 
of sweet peas. 

What ! ” cried Mr. Betts, springing to 
his feet. He ran his hand excitedly 
through his hair. “ Trot, what have you 
been doing, girl ? ” 

“ I haven’t done anything, Mr. Betts. 
Don’t say anything about it to Mrs. 
Carleton, will you? Mr. Carleton has 
sold Theo his ticket. That is he will 
take it if Mr. Worthington consents to 
our plan, and Theo will start for Aus- 
tralia next week.” 

“ Trot ! ” gasped Mr. Betts, his small 
brown eyes shining with admiration. 

You’ve repayed Mr. Worthington, girl, 
ten times over for all he has ever done 
for you, if you can bring this about. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


141 


God bless you, Trot. How did you ever 
come to think of it? ” 

Theo and I thought it out together. 
It took us exactly forty-eight hours. I 
told Theo all we knew, and all we sur- 
mised in regard to Mr. Carleton’s going 
out there, and when he saw Alice down 
at the office studying the map of Austra- 
lia he had an inspiration. Mr. Carleton 
is going to take Theo’s position, Mr. 
Betts, if Mr. Worthington consents. 

“ No, Trot, you don’t mean it ! ” 

** Yes, I do. Now aren’t you sorry and 
ashamed that you’ve said hard things 
about him? You never saw a man more 
humble, Mr. Betts.” 

“ Well, I am surprised ! Why, I would 
as soon have expected the Prince of Wales 
to take up with the offer ! ” 

<< We’re all just alike at heart, Mr. 
Betts,” said Trot. What do you think 
made him willing to forget his pride and 
consent?” Mr. Betts shook his head. 

Love,” replied Trot smiling through her 
tears. “ You know the song, — ^ ’Tis 
love that makes the world go round’? 


T42 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Theo said he told him all the nice things 
he’d heard Mr. Worthington say about 
him, and how dearly he loved him, just 
as though he were his own brother. Mr. 
Carleton put his head down on the table 
and cried like a boy.” 

But he’s known it right along. Trot. 
Why, girl, the letters Mr. Worthington 
has sent to that man and no response, 
and he’s held back a great many of the 
letters addressed to Mrs. Carleton, we’re 
sure of that.” 

“ It is all different now,” replied Trot. 
^^The old enmity seems gone from his 
heart and the past doesn’t count.” 

We appear to need everything evil to 
go from us before we rightly find our- 
selves. It is clear that good governs this 
old world, isn’t it. Trot? ” 

Just at that moment the door was 
pushed open and Alice came into the 
room with her hands full of roses. 

Take these quick, Trot. The girls 
are at the garden gate with bushels of 
flowers,” she said excitedly, and was out 
of the door again. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


H3 


Amy Lewis and her pack/^ said Mr. 
Betts, going to the window. 

‘‘You must call them the Hexagon 
now,” said Trot. “ That is their new 
name.” 

“ Oh, is it ? Hello, Hexagon, come 
in ! ” called Mr. Betts, throwing open the 
door. “ I choose the girl with the pink 
carnations.” 

“You canT have me, you were cross to 
me yesterday,” replied Amy laughing. 

“ Girls, what beautiful flowers ! ” said 
Trot. “You must arrange them your- 
selves, though, I have my hands full.” 

“ Oh, we expect to,” said Daphne 
Soule. “ These are all for the library, 
for there is where Mr. Worthington will 
go when he first comes in.” 

“We are all going from here to the 
dock,” said Ruth Hardy to Alice. 

“There is another menagerie waiting 
at the gate. Miss Alice,” said Mr. Betts. 

“ It^s the little ones. Give me the 
key,” said Trot, “I’ll go and take their 
flowers and tell them they can’t come in 
now.” 


144 the queen of LITTLE 


Alice ran out on the veranda. Oh, 
please let them come in, Trot, if they 
want to,^’ she called. 

“ All right, if you and the other girls 
will look out for them. I'm not dressed 
to go to the dock yet." 

Ten small boys and girls, all dressed in 
their very best clothes and each carrying 
a small bouquet, followed Trot in quiet 
order up the garden path to the piazza. 

My mother and father are going to 
take all the little ones to the dock in our 
carry-all," said one of the small boys, 
running up to Alice and taking hold of 
her hand. And all our flowers are to 
go in Mr. Worthington's study, and here 
are vases in this basket to put them in." 

Bertha and I will help the little ones 
with their flowers, Alice," said Amy 
coming out on the piazza. The girls 
want you in the library." 

Oh, Amy, thank you so much for 
those beautiful blank-books. I found 
them on my pillow when I woke up this 
morning," said Alice. 

Glad you like them," replied Amy 


BARRYMORE STREET 14^ 


carelessly. Go on, the girls have some- 
thing to tell you, and wedl have to start 
for the docks in a few minutes.” 

Alice ran up the wide stairs and into 
the library. What is it, girls ? ” she 
asked. 

It is about your coronation,” said 
Daphne. “We want to have it to- 
morrow in the afternoon and evening. 
It will please your uncle.” 

“ And we want you to choose your first 
and second maids of honor,” said Helen 
Easton. 

“ Ladies in waiting, you mean,” cor- 
rected Ruth. 

“ Oh ! ” said Alice, putting her hands 
over her face, “ I can't choose, I want 
you all ! ” 

“ We will all be your ladies in wait- 
ing,” said Ruth. “ It is only for form 
that you must choose your two special 
ones.” 

“ Yes, it is going to be a very grand 
occasion,” said Daphne Soule. “ We've 
been all the morning planning it, Alice.” 

“ I'll let you know whom I choose this 


146 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


evening, girls. I^m too excited to think 
now. You may go in and see mamma if 
you want to. She’s in her room.” 

‘‘Yes, we want her to help us plan 
about the coronation robe,” said Ruth. 

“ Girls ! ” said Alice, throwing out her 
arms, “ I’ll just scream if I don’t tell you 
something ! Promise you’ll not tell my 
mamma ? ” 

“ No, no, what is it? ” cried the girls in 
chorus. 

“ My papa is coming to-night on the 
eight o’clock train ! I had a telegram 
from him. My darling papa, and I 
guess he isn’t going to Australia after 
all ! ” 

“ Well, I shouldn’t think you could 
plan about being Queen ! ” said Ruth 
Hardy after they had expressed their de- 
light and hugged and kissed Alice all 
round. 

“ I haven’t told you everything,” said 
Alice. “ Trot has had a fortune left her 
by an uncle way off in some place. I 
don’t know how much, but thousands 
and thousands of dollars ! ” 


BARRYMORE STREET 147 


Oh, has it truly happened at last?” 
cried Daphne Soule and rushed out of 
the room. 

WeVe always known she’d have a 
fortune some time,” said Ruth. 

Yes, just the way you keep looking 
for the last chapter of a continued story ! ” 
said Helen Easton laughing. “ I’m go- 
ing to congratulate her, too,” and away 
she ran. 

“Doesn’t the house look beautiful? 
Mr. Worthington will be so pleased,” said 
Ruth, pulling her little silver watch out 
of her belt. “It is only half an hour 
now until we start. I want to congratu- 
late Trot too, but I’m afraid I’ll cry, so 
I’ll wait 'till no one is around.” 

“Why, why will you cry?” asked 
Alice in surprise. 

“ Because I love her dearly, oh, so 
dearly, and now I am afraid she will go 
away. I don’t want my face all red with 
crying when Mr. Worthington comes, 
and Trot will understand.” 

At that moment the front door bell 
rang loudly. “ It’s the boys ! ” cried 


148 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Daphne Soule^s voice in the lower hall. 
‘‘ I’ll open the door, Trot.” 

“Who are the boys?” asked Alice, as 
she and Kuth ran out to peek over the 
bannister. 

“ Harry Atwood’s gang. Daphne calls 
them,” laughed Ruth. 

Daphne threw open the door and four 
bright-faced lads stepped into the hall. 

“ Come, it is time the procession was 
moving towards the dock,” said the first 
boy. 

“ Here, take my floral offering for Mr. 
Worthington,” said the second. 

“ Come on, Daph, let’s have a waltz ; 
give us some music, Arthur.” 

“ Let us go down, they’re going to 
dance,” said Ruth to Alice. “ The girls 
will come in and we’ll have a waltz all 
around.” 

“ Oh, I’m afraid to ! ” said Alice. “ So 
many boys ! ” 

“You’ll have to get used to boys,” 
laughed Ruth. “ There are always boys 
in this house when Mr. Worthington is 
at home.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


149 


Alice followed Ruth timidly down the 
broad stair to the music-room. Daphne 
and her partner were already swinging 
around to gay music. 

** Come on, Ruth, let’s have a go,” cried 
one of the boys as Ruth and Alice ap- 
peared in the doorway. 

Don’t you want to be introduced to 
Alice, you rude boy ? ” replied Ruth. 

I don’t need an introduction, I’m well 
acquainted,” said the boy with a funny 
look at Alice, but being a true little gen- 
tleman he came forward and held out 
his hand as Ruth said, “ This is Sidney 
Clark.” 

“ And this is Charlie-boy Brown,” said 
Sidney, drawing the other boy forward. 
‘‘ You can dance with him.” 

So Alice danced with Charlie-boy 
Brown, and presently Amy and the 
other girls came in and they danced with 
each other ; and in a little while Trot 
and Mr. Betts came in and they danced 
together ; and a few minutes later Mrs. 
Carleton and Mrs. Betts came in and they 
danced together. And the ten little boys 


150 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


and girls stood in the wide arch doorway 
and clapped their hands, keeping time to 
the music. It was a very merry scene. 

But all at once Mr. Betts shouted, — 
Come, it's time we were starting for the 
dock ! God bless you. Trot Angel, he's 
almost in sight of land I " 


XIV 


UNCLE EDWIN 

T*VE been counting just for fun to 
I see how many there are here on the 
^ dock that came to meet Mr. Worth- 
ington/’ said Trot, coming up to Alice 
and her mother, her face beaming with 
happiness. How many do you guess ? ” 
“ Twenty-five,” said Alice. 

Thirty-five,” said Mrs, Carleton. 

Sixty-four,” said Trot. ‘‘ Isn’t that a 
splendid turnout ? See, there is dear old 
Mr. Heyman .over there with the little 
children.” 

“ There is our lamplighter,” said Alice. 
“Is he here to meet Uncle Edwin, too ? ” 
“Yes, of course he is,” replied Trot. 
“ He’s one of Mr. Worthington’s particu- 
lar friends. That is his Tommy holding 
on to his finger.” 

“ Oh, the little boy I’m going to give 
the five dollar gold piece to, mamma,” 
said Alice. 

15* 


152 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


See, they are getting the tug ready to 
go out to meet the steamer,*^ said Trot. 

Oh, I wish they’d let me go with 
them ! ” 

Do they ever allow any one to go out 
to meet the steamer ? ” asked Mrs. Carle- 
ton. 

“ I know that tall officer at this end. 
He’s a friend of Mr. Worthington’s. I’m 
going to ask him to take me,” replied 
Trot, and was gone. 

At that moment there was a general 
uproar on the dock. The steamer had 
been sighted, and Mrs. Carleton and Alice 
pressed forward to get a clearer view of 
the black mast against the sky. 

“ There he comes, madam ; that’s his 
mast, little lady,” cried Mr. Betts exci- 
tedly, pushing his way through the crowd 
to their side. God bless you, there is 
Trot Angel going out on the tug to meet 
the steamer ! ” 

Yes, there was Trot, waving her sailor 
hat and smiling, as the little boat moved 
rapidly out across the water. 

‘‘ Oh, I wish I could have gone with 


BARRYMORE STREET 


153 


her ! said Alice waving her handker- 
chief in return. 

You never saw any one to equal that 
girl, madam, for making her way and 
carrying a point, and yet when she came 
to Mr. Worthington she was nothing 
more than a little whipped kitten afraid 
to say her soul was her own.^^ 

Now you can see the smoke-stacks! 
He^s almost here 1 ” said Amy, suddenly 
appearing. “ What do you think ? Trot 
said she was going to climb the ladder at 
the side of the big steamer and come in 
with Mr. Worthington. The officers 
won’t let her, though.” 

“ Don’t you 'believe it,” said Mr. Betts. 

If Trot said she was going to climb that 
ladder and come in with Mr. Worthing- 
ton in the big steamer she’ll do it 1 ” And 
if Mr. Betts had been on the tug just 
then he would have been well satisfied 
with his estimation of Trot’s ability to 
carry her point. 

I’m going to come in with the 
steamer,” she told the tall officer who had 
won permission to take her out on ^he tug. 


154 the queen of LITTLE 

** No, indeed, you are not ! Why, it 
would be impossible for a lady to climb 
that ladder at the side of the steamer ! ’’ 
It isn’t going to be impossible for me,” 
laughed Trot. Don’t you think if you 
were a girl who had just had a fortune of 
fifty thousand dollars left you, you’d dare 
climb any ladder to tell your best friend 
about it ? ” 

“ Miss Angel ! ” exclaimed the officer 
holding out his hand. “ Do you mean to 
say you’re the girl that has the fortune ? ” 
Yes, I’m the girl. There won’t be a 
chance for me to have a talk with Mr. 
Worthington after we land. Please let 
me climb the ladder ; I’m not one mite 
afraid.” 

The tall officer turned and walked 
away to the other end of the tug, and 
held a long conversation with another 
tall officer, who presently came up to 
Trot and said with a frown, If you are 
willing to take the risk of the climb, 
young lady, you may come in with the 
liner, but I’ll tell you plainly, I’m afraid 
you’ll make trouble for me if you do.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


155 


No, I’ll not make any trouble for you,” 
Trot replied. Mr. Worthington will 
make it all right. You know he owns 
an interest in this steamship company ? ” 
Yes, I do happen to know that,” re- 
plied the officer dryly, and walked away. 

The old ocean liner came steaming 
down the bay. There was great excite- 
ment among the children on the docks. 
Every handkerchief was waving and the 
boys in the foreground kept up a deafen- 
ing “ Hurrah.” 

Oh, mamma,” said Alice, clinging to 
her mother’s hand. “ Isn’t it beautiful 
to see every one so glad ? ” 

‘‘Yes, it is, darling. I can’t tell you 
how glad I am. It seems like a long 
strange dream that I have ever been 
parted from my brother.” 

“ It has been just a dream. Precious. 
You’ll know to-night that we’re all wide 
awake again.” 

“ Alice, what do you mean ? ” said Mrs. 
Carleton, for she heard a note of great 
joy in her little daughter’s voice. 

Before Alice could reply Amy came 


156 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


running up again and threw her arms 
about Mrs. Carleton, exclaiming, I sup- 
pose we’ll have to stand back until you 
see him first, because he belongs to you 
the most, but be as quick as you can, 
won’t you ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed I will,” replied Mrs. 
Carleton laughing. I’ll try to remem- 
ber that I’m just one.” 

He’ll forget us all when he sees 
Alice,” said Amy. I wish I could be 
in her shoes for the next hour ! ” 

“ I’ll let you kiss him first, Amy,” said 
Alice. “ You know him and I don’t.” 

Oh, I was only joking. He’s yours 
to-day, of course. There’s my aunt over 
there, Alice,” she added, laughing. 

“ The lady in the dark purple silk with 
the big bunch of red roses ? I think she 
is real nice,” said Alice. I don’t see 
why you call her odd, Amy.” 

“ You would if you lived with her.” 

Mrs. Carleton bent forwards quickly 
and whispered something in Amy’s ear. 
“ Oh, thank you, I did forget,” the little 
girl answered aloud. My aunt is a 


BARRYMORE STREET 


157 


dear, Alice. I was just joking about that 
too,’^ and Amy ran away down the dock. 

'' Mamma, said Alice thoughtfully 
after a moment, I love Amy best of all 
the girls. I’m going to choose her for 
my first lady.” 

I’m glad that you are, dear,” replied 
Mrs. Carleton. 

“ She hasn’t as much to make her 
happy as the others have and she’s so 
brave and generous.” 

Yes, she is. You can do a great deal 
for Amy if you love her, daughter.” 

I do. I thought yesterday I liked 
Ruth best because she makes me feel 
more comfortable, and she has such 
pretty manners, but I don’t ; I like Amy 
best and I always will.” 

Now he is almost in ! ” shouted Mr. 
Betts rushing up. “ What did I tell 
you ? The tug has come back and Miss 
Trot did not come back with it ! ” 

Why, the daring girl ! I wonder 
how she managed it ! ” laughed Mrs. 
Carleton. 

We’ll have a fine account from Mr. 


158 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Worthington. It takes that man to tell 
a story, madam, and this will be a story 
he’ll delight in to the end of his days. 
He thinks the world and all of Trot.” 

“ .Oh, mamma, come, they are throwing 
the chains over ! ” cried Alice. Come, 
every one is going nearer.” 

Yes, push your way up to the gang- 
plank, madam. There’ll be no one on 
this dock but you and Miss Alice for the 
first few minutes. God bless him, there 
he is ! ” And Mr. Betts was gone. What 
a time of excitement it was ! Alice never 
forgot that first sight of Uncle Edwin as 
he stood leaning over the vessel’s edge, 
waving his hat and looking eagerly 
about the crowded wharf She never for- 
got the moment when his eyes first 
found her mother’s face upturned to greet 
him. 

When the gangplank was thrown Mr. 
Worthington was the first passenger to 
reach the shore, and no one was ashamed 
of an April shower of tears as he took 
the beautiful lady and little girl both 
into his arms at once and forgot all the 


BARRYMORE STREET 


ij?9 


world for the moment in his great joy of 
seeing them. 

The children claimed him next, crowd- 
ing like bees around a honey-pot. Alice 
was glad to see her uncle take Amy into 
his arms and kiss her, and to hear him 
say, — How is my bravest girl ? 

You look exactly like your picture,” 
said a voice behind Aliceas back. She 
turned quickly and there stood a boy 
with his hands in his pockets and brown 
eyes twinkling with fun. 

Did I scare you ? ” he asked laugh- 
ing. 

‘^Yes, you did. Are you Buttons?” 
asked Alice. 

No, I dropped that name overboard 
on the way home. Mr. Worthington 
says I am far too important a person to 
carry that name any longer.” 

“ Why are you important ? ” Alice 
asked laughing. 

Ask Mr. Worthington,” replied the 
boy, and hung his head with a pretense 
of great modesty. “You should have 
seen Trot coming up the ladder at the 


i6o THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


side of the ship,” he added the next mo- 
ment. It was great I The officers just 
stood about with their mouths open when 
she landed on the deck. I tell you she 
looked handsome ! Isn’t it fine about all 
that money being left her ? Theo Allen 
is going to sail for Australia next week, 
— good riddance to him ! ” 

Why do you say that? He’s a very 
nice man, I’m sure,” said Alice quickly. 

I suppose he is, but Trot belongs to 
us and to no one else. I hope she’ll 
forget he’s alive when he’s out of 
sight.” 

“ I don’t believe she will,” said Alice 
smiling. 

“ No, lovie, dovie, I don’t suppose she 
will either,” and Harry Atwood jerked 
off his cap with a bow and disappeared in 
the crowd. 

'‘We are going up to the house alone 
in the carriage, little sister. Come, my 
Alice, take Uncle Edwin’s hand.” 

Alice looked up at the tall gentleman 
and smiled as she gave him her hand. 
" You haven’t seen half the people yet. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


i6i 


There are sixty-four here to meet you, 
Uncle Edwin. 

Yes, so Trot told me. She is going 
to marshal them all up to the house and 
weTl have our reception there. But I 
must have a few minutes alone with my 
dear ones first. 

When they were alone in the carriage 
rolling away towards home. Uncle Edwin 
held Alice’s hand very closely in his, but 
he looked at her mother. 

You’ve grown more beautiful than 
ever, little sister. And how do I look to 
you ? ” 

^^You haven’t grown old at all,” re- 
plied Mrs. Carleton. I was afraid I 
shouldn’t know you, but I did at once.” 

“ Grown old I No, of course I haven’t. 
I drink from the fountain of perennial 
youth. If Robbie were only here now 
I should be perfectly happy. How is my 
brother ? Losing his money must have 
been a terrible blow to that boy. Has 
he really decided to go to Australia ? ” 

“He planned to sail to-morrow. It 
isn’t right at all for him to go, I feel sure 


i 62 the queen of little 


that it isn’t, Edwin. He is only going, 
hoping to get away from his misery. 
I’ve hoped and prayed that something 
would happen to change his decision,” 
replied Mrs. Carleton. 

“ Why didn’t he come here ? He 
knew I’d do anything for him. Why, 
all I have belongs to you and Alice and 
Robbie, just as much as it does to me. 
He isn’t like an ordinary brother-indaw. 
I’ve loved that boy all my life. Yes, I 
know, that trouble between us, but that 
has been as dead as ashes in my heart for 
years. It is dead in Robbie’s heart, too ; 
nothing but pride has kept him from 
holding out his hand to me.” 

Oh, papa isn’t proud any more. Uncle 
Edwin,” interrupted Alice, her eyes fill- 
ing with tears. You mustn’t think he 
is proud any more, for he isn’t. I’ll have 
to tell you now. He doesn’t want to 
go to Australia. He does want to come 
here.” 

Alice, my dear, what do you mean ? ” 
cried her mother. 

I was going to keep it for a surprise. 


BARRYMORE STREET 163 


He’s coming from New York to-night on 
the eight o’clock train,” said Alice. 

God bless him ! What better news 
could I have just now ! ” exclaimed Uncle 
Edwin. Tell us all about it, little girl, 
and how you came to be in this secret, 
and not your mother.” And Alice, smi- 
ling through her tears, told of the night 
on the balcony and all that she had heard 
and all that had since occurred. 

‘^A fine plan,” said Uncle Edwin, 
bringing his hands together with an em- 
phatic clap. Those are clever children 
Theo and Trot, working out their own 
problems, and for others at the same time ! 
That will be a good position for Robbie 
to begin on, and I’ll see that he is given 
a better one later.” 

“ Are we going to live with you on 
Little Barrymore Street?” asked Alice 
eagerly. 

Would you like to, sweetheart? ” 

“ Yes, I should, wouldn’t you, mamma ? 
I like all the girls so much. And oh. 
Uncle Edwin, my beautiful room that 
you had furnished for me ! ” 


i64 the queen of LITTLE 


“ That will always be your room, wher- 
ever you are, Alice/ ^ 

Papa will want us to have a home of 
our own, Alice,^^ said Mrs. Carleton. 

Yes, that will be better,^^ Uncle 
Edwin said, putting his arm around 
Alice. I have a beautiful little house 
with large grounds in the suburbs. You 
shall live there, and at my house, too. 
Just think, what a fortunate girl ! Two 
homes at once ! 

“ And a dear new uncle ! ” said Alice, 
throwing her arms around his neck and 
kissing him. 

“You think you are going to love me 
then ? ” 

“ Oh, I loved you right away. Every 
one loves you so dearly I couldn’t help 
it.” 

“ You are a regular fairy godfather to 
all the children, Edwin,” said Mrs. 
Carleton. 

“Yes, we hold complete sway in Little 
Barrymore Street, and Alice here is 
Queen. Did you know you were a 
Queen, young lady ? ” 


BARRYMORE STREET 165 


“ Yes, everybody calls me the Queen,” 
said Alice smiling. The girls are going 
to have my coronation, day after to-mor- 
row, and I^m going to choose Amy and 
Daphne Soule for my first ladies in wait- 
ing. Theyhe so full of fun they will 
make it interesting.” 

Yes, they have planned a grand coro- 
nation with a masked ball and a cake 
walk to end up with, Edwin.” 

** That is some of Amy’s nonsense. I’ll 
be bound ! ” said Uncle Edwin with a 
roar of laughter. You say Amy and 
Daphne are full of fun,” he added, pinch- 
ing Alice’s cheek. I take it you are 
rather a subdued little lady for eleven 
years.” 

“Yes, she is,” her mother replied for 
her. “ She hasn’t lived the free life you 
and I had as children, Edwin.” 

“ I imagine there has been considerable 
form and ceremony. It will be a blessing 
to us all that Robbie lost his money. He 
may not think it, but his good days have 
just begun.” 

“ Oh, I’m full of fun,” said Alice. “ I 


i66 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


don^t think I^m subdued, Uncle Edwin, 
though I don^t know exactly what you 
meam” 

There isnT the sparkle in those eyes 
there will be when you have been racing 
ponies through the park with Harry At- 
wood some day/^ 

“ Oh, am I going to have a pony. 
Uncle Edwin ? ” 

He winked his right eye slowly. “ Just 
you wait. Did you ever make mud pies, 
Alice 

No, I hope not ! said Alice in dis- 
gust. 

“ YouVe missed a great deal. Your 
father and mother used to make mud 
pies together in the brook back of our 
house.’' 

Think of papa Carleton making mud 
pies ! ” exclaimed Alice. Did he really. 
Uncle Edwin ? ” 

“Yes, really. Could I induce you to 
go to that same brook some day and make 
mud pies with me? ” 

“ Is he laughing at me, mamma ? ” 

“ No, he wants you to say you will go.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


167 


** All right, I’ll go. I like to do silly 
things,” said Alice laughing. 

Thank you, I shall remember the en- 
gagement,” said Uncle Edwin with a 
bow. “ How did you like my Harry ? ” 
“ Oh, I like him pretty well,” replied 
Alice thoughtfully. 

Whose boy is he, Edwin?” asked 
Mrs. Carleton. 

His father was a dear friend of mine. 
He went away a year ago and left me his 
boy. He is a wonderfully talented little 
fellow. I expect he will win his way 
with the violin some day. I am going 
to send him to Germany in a year or two 
to study. Here we are,” he added as the 
carriage stopped. “ And there is my 
dear old faithful Lena in the doorway to 
meet me ! ” 


XV 


HAKRY PLANS THE PARADE 

T he afternoon and evening that 
followed was a perfect whirl of 
excitement. All who had been 
at the dock to meet Mr. Worthington 
gladly accepted Trot’s invitation to follow 
the dear man to his home. It was rather 
an unusual gathering of people, and very 
interesting to Alice because it was so un- 
usual. Old and young, rich and poor, 
with one heart of gladness crowded those 
beautiful rooms for an hour. 

With a child on each knee, Mr. Worth- 
ington sat in his great leather chair at 
the end of the library and received his 
friends. But at last all were gone ex- 
cept Amy, who had been invited to stay 
to dinner. What an honor it was to be 
invited to stay at a time like this ! 

Amy found Alice and whispered the 
joy to her. “ Oh, I’m so glad,” said Alice. 

i68 


BARRYMORE STREET 169 


Now I can tell you whom I’ve chosen 
for my ladies in waiting and we can 
make plans.” 

You’ve chosen Ruth first, of course,” 
said Amy. 

“ No, you are first, Amy.” 

“ Alice ! I hope you didn’t choose me 
because I gave you those blank-books? 
The girls will say I hired you to choose 
me ! I thought it was settled you’d 
choose Ruth. I gave you those blank- 
books because at first I was jealous of 
you, and then afterwards I was ashamed 
of it.” 

Oh, I never thought of those books 
when I decided,” replied Alice quickly. 
“ I’ll tell you how I came to decide.” 

Who is second, Ruth ? ” interrupted 
Amy. 

No, you’ll be surprised, — Daphne 
Soule.” 

Daphne I And not Ruth at all ? 
What a funny girl you are, Alice ! ” 

It isn’t funny. I knew you and 
Daphne would think of more interesting 
things than any of the others, that’s all. 


lyo THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


Last night I was writing in my book 
about you all and I couldn't seem to 
think of anything to say about the others, 
but I wrote six pages about you and four 
about Daphne. That's how I came to 
decide that you two were really the most 
interesting." 

You are a dear original genius ! " said 
Amy, hugging Alice. We will think of 
more interesting things than the others. 
Daphne has more snap and go to her lit- 
tle finger than Ruth will ever have." 

“ Uncle Edwin said that I was very 
subdued. Does that mean that I haven't 
any snap and go ? " asked Alice anx- 
iously. 

No indeed. You are quiet and re- 
served, but you have more ideas in a min- 
ute than Ruth has in a day." 

“ I suppose I am subdued because I 
have never played with other children or 
been to school. I want to have snap and 
go, as you call it, but I do admire gentle 
manners, Amy." 

“ I do too," said Amy heartily. I wish 
I could be as sweet and polite as your 


BARRYMORE STREET 


171 


mother. IVe watched her all the morn- 
ing.’^ 

“ What was mamma whispering to you 
down at the docks, Amy ? 

“Oh, she said she’d rather have you 
love my aunt than criticise her.” 

“ Mamma is so opposed to criti- 
cising any one. She says talking over 
people’s peculiarities is not true conversa- 
tion.” 

“ I shall improve so fast I shall not 
know myself if I associate with you,” 
laughed Amy. “ I always criticise every 
one, almost. It is a mean habit and I’m 
going to stop it. There comes Harry 
Atwood. I’ve only just had a chance to 
say how-do-you-do to him.” 

“ Hello, Amy, why don’t you go 
home ? ” said the boy as he came up to 
them. 

“ I’m not going home, you impudent 
boy ! ” replied Amy. 

“ Why, every one else has gone, almost. 
Mr. Worthington said he wouldn’t have 
the gang to dinner to-day. If you stay 
the others will think they can.” 


172 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


** The others are not invited, Mr. Harry 
Atwood, and I am.” 

Oh my, what a privileged character 
we are ! Well, come out into the garden 
after a while, both of you. I have a 
grand scheme.” 

‘‘Doesn't he act important?” said 
Alice, when Harry had gone. 

“Yes, he acts as though he owned Mr. 
W orthington and everything around. But 
don't you think he is a handsome boy ? ” 

“ I don't know, he is so self-conscious. 
I don't believe I shall like him at all. I 
thought I should when I first saw him at 
the docks, but I don't.” 

“ Who is criticising now ? ” asked Amy 
laughing. 

“ I am, I suppose, but I feel so disap- 
pointed, and just think how much I'll 
have to see him ! ” 

“ I hated the sight of him when I first 
saw him, too,” said Amy. “ You wait a 
few days, you'll change your opinion. 
He doesn't always act so important. 
He's like a kaleidoscope ; changes every 
time he turns around.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


173 


“ Do you really like him now ? asked 
Alice. 

Yes, I adore him ! ” laughed Amy. 

All the girls do. When you see the 
best side of him you won’t think he is 
self-conscious.” 

When they reached the garden Harry 
was waiting for them. 

I had to run down the street to speak 
to the boys again,” he said smiling. 

How serious you look, Alice. What is 
the matter ? ” 

Oh, nothing,” said Alice care- 
lessly. 

The boy flushed to the curly bang on 
his forehead. “Yes, there is and I can 
guess what it is, too, but never mind, 
I want to tell you our plan. After the 
coronation we are going to have a grand 
procession. A barouche for the Queen 
and her ladies in waiting and several 
kinds of open carriages for the rest of us, 
and trim them up in flowers and green 
things and parade through the residence 
streets. Won’t it be great? ” 

“ Oh, oh, won’t that be fun ? ” said 


174 the queen of LITTLE 


Amy, dancing about. I know where 
you got your idea. Tell Alice.^’ 

Mr. Worthington and I were in Cali- 
fornia at the Los Angeles Fiesta one 
year, and the Queen and her party pa- 
raded the street, only it was a very long 
procession that followed them. I said 
then I wished we could have something 
like it here in the east, but Mr. Worth- 
ington said they never would, that east- 
erners were so serious they didnT know 
how to frolic.’’ 

It will be lots of fun,” said Alice. 

It will be just like being in a play.” 
And her dislike for that too important 
boy began to wane. 

Of course I had to ask Mr. Worthing- 
ton if we could, and he’s in for it. He 
says we’ll have white horses for the 
Queen’s barouche, and trim the harness 
with the deep red carnations and red 
ribbons.” 

Oh, lovely, lovely,” said Alice, clap- 
ping her hands. 

Mr. Worthington says we’ll have to 
put it off until week after next, though. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


175 


He’ll be too busy to help us this coming 
week. Hello ! There comes some of our 
luggage ! ” and Harry was gone. 

“ Now you like him better, don’t you?” 
said Amy. 

Yes, I am afraid he guessed I didn’t 
like him.” 

You showed it so plain,” laughed 
Amy. 

There’s the dinner bell at last ! It 
must be three o’clock. Only five hours 
now till papa gets here ! ” said Alice. 

“ Oh, I keep forgetting he’s coming ! I 
suppose you are as excited over that as I 
was over having Mr. Worthington 
come.” 

No, I’m not excited, Amy, not now, 
but I’m happier than I ever was about 
anything, because my precious mamma is 
so happy. Just before you came and told 
me you were going to stay to dinner she 
came and kissed me and said she felt as 
though she were walking on stars.” 

“ I must go home the minute dinner is 
over,” said Amy, as they reached the 
piazza. This is my afternoon to read 


176 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


German to auntie. She holds me to it 
once a week.’’ 

“ Can you read German ? ” asked Alice, 
looking at Amy in admiration. 

Oh, yes, and French too.” 

“ Why, Amy Lewis, and you’re only 
twelve years old ! ” 

“ Well, I don’t know anything else. I 
don’t know two and two in arithmetic. 
Aunt knows French and German, and 
she’s held me right to them ever since I 
could talk. I learn them so easy, it’s no 
credit.” 

“ I’m so glad you can’t learn arithme- 
tic,” said Alice. “ I can’t either and I’ve 
tried hard, because some day I want to go 
to college.” 

“ I should have to wait and graduate 
from high school with those who are in 
the primary now, I guess. I haven’t 
looked into an arithmetic for two years,” 
said Amy. 

‘‘Why, did your aunt let you stop 
studying it just because you didn’t like 
it?” 


I didn’t tell her, I just stopped.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


177 


Why, Amy I 

“ Oh, I'm a terrible girl," said Amy 
laughing. If she really cared, Alice, I 
would tell her. If I do the few things 
she asks me to she doesn't care what I 
don't do, she often says so. I'd stay 
poked up at home with a governess the 
way you have if she had her way. If I 
decide to go to college I'm going to have 
a tutor evenings and make up all I've 
lost." 

“ You never could do it now, Amy." 

Yes I could. I could do anything if 
I tried." 

Oh, here you are," said Uncle Edwin, 
coming to the door. '' Come, let us have 
our dinner. Every one has gone at last 
and I am half starved." 

“ Don't tell your mother what I told 
you, not yet," Amy whispered to Alice, 
as they were sitting down to the table. 

Some day I'm going to confess to Mr. 
Worthington, and if he says I ought, 
why, I'll tell auntie and have a tutor and 
make it all up." 

Alice spent the remainder of the after- 


178 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


noon in the garden writing in her blank- 
book. Uncle Edwin had asked to be 
alone with her mother and they were in 
the library. Trot and Harry Atwood 
had gone down town on some mysterious 
errand known only to themselves. 

“ Uncle Edwin is a wonderful man/^ 
wrote Alice. ^ * W ords cannot describe peo- 
ple at all. Vyg found that out, and I^m 
almost discouraged trying to write about 
them. He is not one bit like papa or any 
other man I ever knew. He is not as 
dignified as papa, and yet sometimes he 
seems more dignified to me. He is ten 
years older than papa, but he doesnT 
seem so old. (He is fifty and papa is 
forty.) I like to watch him walk. He 
is so big and tall and he just steps off as 
light and quick as a boy. He has a 
beautiful head — I mean the shape of it. 
His hair is gray and curls up in the most 
interesting way over his ears. His ears 
are a little too long. His eyes are brown 
like mine and mamma’s. He looks like 
us exactly in his eyes. He says funny 
things and serious ones all at once, and 


BARRYMORE STREET 


179 


makes you laugh and feel serious all at 
once. (I’ll write some more when I 
know him better.)” 

Alice turned over several pages and 
began again. “ Harry Atwood is the first 
boy I ever knew. (Of course I don’t 
know him very well yet.) I realize I’ve 
been poked up at home with a governess 
as Amy said her aunt wanted her to be. 
I am glad we’re poor now, and I can go 
to school. I’m tired of being petted and 
called darling all day. Now I’m going 
to get out into the world like other chil- 
dren. Boys are very interesting. There 
are five here. (There ought to be six, 
because there are six girls.) At dinner 
to-day Harry looked at me so funny I 
laughed and choked with my soup. 
Uncle Edwin said, 'Man, what are you 
up to ? ’ (He calls Harry ' man,’ or ' my 
man,’ every time he speaks to him.) All 
the rest of dinner Harry looked so meek 
and kept his eyes right on his plate and 
didn’t speak a word unless he was spoken 
to. (He is a kaleidoscope, as Amy says.) 
After dinner Harry gave me a beautiful 


i8o THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


shell, a real nautilus. Oh, it is a beauty I 
I have it here on my lap now. I think 
we ought to trust God, — The Love that 
thought this beautiful shell, — and I do 
trust Him. Love is going to rebuild our 
home and Love built this home for the 
nautilus. (This isn’t about Harry but he 
gave me the shell so never mind.)” 


XVI 


TROT WINS HER DESIRE 

W HEN Alice stopped writing the 
sun had gone and it was almost 
dark. She had written ten 
pages about Trot Angel and it seemed to 
her that she had only made a beginning. 

I didn't realize she was so interest- 
ing," Alice said to herself, reading over 
what she had written, — “ Trot is the most 
story-book one of them all except Uncle 
Edwin and Mr. Betts. She isn't very 
pretty, only her mouth, that is sweet, but 
she is so full of fun and life she is almost 
beautiful. She has been engaged one 
year to Theo, and they love each other 
more than all the world. I think it is 
very beautiful and sacred and so does 
mamma. Trot has fifty thousand dollars 
all her own, and she wants to go to 
Australia, with Theo, and have a sheep 
ranch and horses, and ride like the wind. 

i8i 


i 82 the queen of little 


She knows they will be heavenly happy, 
she says. ^ God bless her,’ I can write 
ten pages more about her I know, and I 
will some time.” 

Alice closed her book, and walked 
towards the house. As she went into 
the hall the front door opened and Trot 
and Harry Atwood came in. Both were 
flushed with quick walking and Trot had 
a strange gleam of excitement in her eyes. 

‘‘Where is Mr. Worthington?” she 
asked breathlessly. 

“ In the library with mamma,” replied 
Alice. 

Trot flew by her up the stairs two steps 
at a time. “ Come, hurry and hear the 
fun,” said Harry. 

“ What is the matter ? ” asked Alice. 

“ Trot’s gone crazy,” replied Harry, 
and the next moment they were in the 
library. 

“ Mr. Worthington, I must see you, I 
must talk with you ! ” began Trot, and 
then stopped and covered her face with 
her hands. 

Mr. Worthington was resting on a 


BARRYMORE STREET 183 


couch, and Mrs. Carleton was sitting by 
his side holding his hand. 

“ Why, what is the excitement, my 
girl?’^ he asked, springing to his feet. 
He knew that something unusual had 
happened or Trot would never have come 
into the room in that way. 

“ Oh Mr. Worthington, I can’t, I can’t 
let Theo go away without me ! ” and 
dropping down on the couch by her 
good friend’s side Trot burst into 
tears. 

Bless your heart, child ! Why, you 
couldn’t , get ready to go with him next 
week ! ” 

We can be married Monday evening 
and go over on the five o’clock train the 
next morning. The boat doesn’t start 
until noon, so if we telegraphed ahead 
for my ticket to-day there would be 
plenty of time.” 

Oh, I see you’ve made all your plans I 
Then why do you come to me ? ” 

Trot threw her arms around Mr. 
Worthington’s neck. Please don’t be 
angry. I went down to tell Theo for the 


i84 the queen of LITTLE 


seventh time that I couldn^t go. I did 
really, didn’t I, Harry ? ” 

Yes, and I went to tell him she 
couldn’t go, but it is all up. We might as 
well give our consent, Mr. Worthington.” 

Is that so. Master Impudence ? Well, 
I don’t give my consent to any such 
nonsense. You haven’t received any of 
the money from your inheritance yet. 
How do you think you are going to man- 
age it. Trot?” 

“You are going to lend me some 
money,” said Trot, looking up at Mr. 
Worthington and laughing through her 
tears. “ I can have Alice and Ruth for 
bridesmaids. We will have a beautiful 
wedding.” 

“ And of course you would wear a 
travelling suit, so any good dress will do,” 
said Mrs. Carleton. 

Mr. Worthington looked helplessly at 
Alice. “ What do you think of all this 
stir up, little girl ? Don’t you think it 
is rather unkind in Trot to want to run 
away and leave me when I’ve just got 
home? ” 


BARRYMORE STREET 185 


I suppose she can^t help wanting to 
go/* said Alice. “ I think it would be 
lovely to have a wedding and for Ruth 
and me to be bridesmaids ! ” 

You’re all on Trot’s side, I see. Well, 
my girl, this will be quick work. Go on 
and make your arrangements. What 
will you need? ” 

“ Nothing but a new pair of gloves,” 
said Trot and hugged him again. 

Every one laughed at this, but Mr. 
Worthington put his arms around Trot 
and kissed her very tenderly. “ The 
dear lainb! Why, you can have any- 
thing you want, my child. You know 
it would be just the same if you had no 
inheritance coming to you.” 

It makes it easier to leave you, hav- 
ing Mrs. Carleton and Alice here,” said 
Trot. But oh, it isn’t easy, Mr. Worth- 
ington I Don’t think for a minute that 
it is easy for me to go ! ” And Trot fled 
from the room in a torrent of tears. 

“ Go after her, man, stay with her and 
help her all you can,” said Mr. Worth- 
ington to Harry. I shall be occupied 


i86 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


for the next two hours and then we will 
see what can be done to give her the 
nicest wedding a girl ever had. And 
now, my dear, we three will have a quiet 
little supper in your room,^^ he said, turn- 
ing to his sister. And then it will be 
time for us to go and meet Robbie.” 

Am I going with you to meet papa ? ” 
asked Alice. 

Yes indeed. Where have you been 
all the afternoon, Pussy ? ” 

“ Out in the garden writing in this 
book.” 

Let me see the book. What have 
you been writing? ” 

Oh, it isn^t for any one to see except 
mamma. It is about the interesting 
people I meet.” 

“ Well, well, that is a clever idea ! 
How came you to think of doing that ? ” 

She has always been interested in peo- 
ple,” her mother replied for her. “ Ever 
since she could write she has made char- 
acter studies, but this is the first time 
she has ever had a book for the pur- 
pose.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 187 


“ Isn^t it a beautiful book, Uncle Ed- 
win ? Amy gave it to me” 

‘‘ Yes, a grand book for the purpose. 
Do you hope to be an author some day, 
Alice ? ” 

‘‘ I don't know. I think Td rather be 
an artist as you are, and paint portraits, 
Uncle Edwin." 

My child, I am not an artist ! I 
must take you to see some really fine 
pictures and you will know that I am 
only a beginner. My work is simply in- 
teresting because of its promise and the 
lesson it may teach others. I never 
touched brush to canvas until I was 
nearly forty years old, Alice." 

It is wonderful, Edwin, really," said 
Mrs. Carleton. Are you still going on 
with the work ? " 

Yes, indeed. I expect to be one of 
the foremost American artists by the 
time I am eighty-five ! " he replied 
laughing. “ Thank God, men and 
women are losing the nonsensical idea 
of growing old. Why, I believe I am 
younger than Alice this minute ! " 


i88 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ Oh, Uncle Edwin ! laughed Alice. 

** I want to see those brown eyes twink- 
ling as your mother’s used to when she 
was a little girl. But come, we have a 
wedding on hand, and just one half hour 
to eat our supper and get to the station 
to meet dear Robbie.” 


XVII 


ALICEAS PAPA 

“ TT isn’t a week since we saw papa 

I and when we told him good-bye we 
were afraid it might be years before 
we saw him again/’ said Alice. 

The three had reached the station and 
were walking up and down the long 
platform watching the track where the 
New York train would presently come 
puffing into sight. 

“ Love is going to rebuild our home 
very much sooner than we thought, isn’t 
it, Precious ? ” 

What is that you said, Alice ? ” asked 
Uncle Edwin, bending forward and 
smiling. 

I said love was going to rebuild our 
home sooner than we thought,” repeated 
the little girl. When we lost our beau- 
tiful home and everything and papa said 
he had to go away and leave us, mamma 

189 


190 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


told me to keep saying God is Love, and 
Love will rebuild our home. I did say 
it over and over every day, and it has 
come true, but oh, much sooner than we 
dreamed it could. Uncle Edwin ! 

Uncle Edwin held the small hand in 
his very close. “ God bless you, my 
Alice. Yes, Love governs all things. It 
is only when we lose sight of this great 
truth that we can be dismayed.” 

There comes the train ! ” said Mrs. 
Carleton, with a joy in her face that words 
cannot describe. 

“ Oh, my darling papa ! ” cried Alice, 
and away she danced down the long plat- 
form. The train drew slowly into the 
station and stopped. 

“ Here he is, here he is coming from 
this car ! ” said Uncle Edwin, and step- 
ping quickly forward held out his hand. 

Here is the boy ! ” the passengers heard 
him say and turned to see the tall gen- 
tleman take the younger man into his 
arms as though he were a boy. But no 
one heard him say, — Oh, Rob, IVe 
waited years for this moment. There 


BARRYMORE STREET 


191 


never was any trouble between us, lad, it 
was only a miserable dream.’* 

Papa, here’s Alice ! ” 

^‘Yes, my dear little daughter, and 
mamma. We are together once more 
and it is right that we should be. I 
have lost everything, Edwin, everything ! 
You can’t realize what that means.” 

It is only a passing experience, Rob- 
bie. Besides, you haven’t lost every- 
thing ; here we are, three of us. Why, 
we are a fortune in ourselves ! You’ve 
valued money too highly, boy, that’s 
why it took, wings. You’ll rise like a 
cork when the tide turns. But come, 
come, we have a wedding on foot at our 
house and not a guest has been invited.” 

We are going to live in a nice little 
house of Uncle Edwin’s just out of town, 
papa.” 

Yes, dear,” he answered smiling. 

It has large grounds and we can have 
a flower garden. You know we used to 
wish we could have a flower garden to- 
gether?” 

“ Yes, so we did, darling.” 


192 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


You’ll not be as busy as you were be- 
fore when we were rich. You will have 
Sundays with us now. Theo always had 
Sundays, Trot said. That will be a great 
gain, too, and think of the beautiful 
walks we’ll take. Uncle Edwin says 
there are woods near where we are going 
to live. You know you love the woods, 
papa.” 

Yes, just play you are having a vaca- 
tion, Robbie. Forget there is such a 
thing as profit and loss, and be a boy 
with Alice for a time. Surely after 
years of earnest labor you can afford 
to take a short vacation with your 
daughter.” 

Mr. Carleton raised his head and 
looked at Uncle Edwin steadily for a 
moment. ‘‘ It will seem like the old 
days going up through those woods with 
you, Edwin. How young you look, 
man ! ” 

Yes, I am like the spring under the 
big rock, forever the same, Robbie. Alice 
has promised to make mud pies with me 
in our old brook some day. I shall 


BARRYMORE STREET 


193 


disinherit her if she breaks her 
promise.’^ 

Mr. Carleton laughed out spontane- 
ously. 

“ There ! You laughed, papa ! said 
Alice, clapping her hands. Uncle Ed- 
win told me that you used to make mud 
pies in the brook. I wouldnT believe 
it.^^ 

Yes, I did, daughter. Oh, I was once 
ten years younger than your uncle, 
Alice. 

‘‘ We will all dance away the weight of 
years at Trof^s wedding.’’ 

Whose wedding did you say it was to 
be ? ” asked Mr. Carleton. 

Oh, let me tell him about her. Uncle 
Edwin. It is such an interesting story, 
papa. She’s a regular heroine.” 

'' All right. I’ll leave the story to you,” 
Uncle Edwin replied, laughing. “My 
Trot is a heroine. She is the sweetest na- 
tured girl I ever knew.” 

Alice told Trot’s interesting story from 
the beginning. 

“Why are you so very still, Pre- 


194 the queen of LITTLE 


cious ? Alice asked her mother as they 
were going up the steps into the house. 

Mrs. Carleton had hardly spoken all 
the distance home. 

I am too glad for words, Alice.” 

“ Papa seems almost well and like 
himself, doesn’t he ? ” 

‘‘Yes, darling.” 

“ Welcome home, brother ! Welcome 
home ! ” said Uncle Edwin when they 
were in the hall. “ And now I must 
leave you three together and see about 
this wedding. We will all meet in the 
music-room at ten o’clock. Poor Eob 
is humble and repentant,” Uncle Edwin 
thought, as he walked away. “ God 
blesses us when we are truly humble and 
repentant.” 


XVIII 


THE DAY OF TEOT^S WEDDING 

"Fk /JT AMMA, it is almost ten o’clock. 

\/ 1 Don’t you think we had better 
^ go down now ? ” Alice asked, 
walking up and down before the long 
mirror, in her mother’s room. She was 
in a white batiste dress trimmed with 
many dainty lace ruffles that floated 
about her like the petals of a flower. 

Oh, no, we will wait here for Ruth, 
and the two little bridesmaids will go 
down together.” 

“ It seems like a play, not like a truly 
wedding at all,” said Alice. Do I look 
like a bridesmaid, papa ? ” 

You are lovely, daughter ! No one 
ever had a lovelier bridesmaid, I am 
sure.” 

Must I look very serious, mamma? ” 

No, indeed ! ” laughed Mrs. Carleton. 

You must look as happy as possible.” 

*95 


196 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


At that moment there was a gentle tap 
at the door, and Euth came into the 
room. 

“ Oh, Alice ! ” she said, with a merry 
laugh, after she had spoken to Mr. and 
Mrs. Carleton, you ought to see the 
boys, they are down there sitting in a 
stiff row, as though it were a meeting ! 
Amy is going to poke them up and 
scatter them around.” 

“Are the boys all here?” said Alice, 
laughing. “ Why, it won^t be serious at 
all, will it?” 

“No, I told mamma I knew I should 
cry, but I’ll not with those ridicul- 
ous things sitting around looking at 
me.” 

“ Quick work for a wedding, madam ? ” 
said Mr. Betts, stopping at the open door, 
and mopping his warm face with his 
handkerchief. “ Trot would invite every 
one of Mr. Worthington’s children, and 
there they sit like pansies, with their 
eyes staring wide open, waiting for the 
wonderful sight. It will be like the 
sugar plum that is eaten, — all over so 


BARRYMORE STREET 


197 


soon they won’t know anything has hap- 
pened.” 

And how soon it was all over ! Alice 
never forgot her surprise and disappoint- 
ment in learning that this most im- 
portant event in life could occupy such a 
short space of time. 

At ten o’clock Uncle Edwin came, and 
they all went down to the music-room 
together. 

And presently Trot and Theo, the dear 
bride and groom, came down. Uncle 
Edwin led Trot across the room, and 
Theo and the little bridesmaids followed 
them, and stood on either side ; and then 
the minister came in and the service be- 
gan. It was a beautiful service, and the 
children’s eyes grew large and thought- 
ful — but oh, how soon it was all over ! 

“ Is that all to getting married?” ex- 
claimed our little girl, as the music and 
dancing began. ''Why, I supposed it 
would take hours ! ” 

The little children went home very 
soon, but the older boys and girls, and 
the few grown people who were there 


iq8 the queen of little 


stayed until the wee, small hours of the 
night. 

What a happy time they had. Alice 
never sat up so late in her life before. 

There were many who broke the 
** early to bed ” rule for the first time 
that night. 

They danced until twelve o’clock, and 
then there was a grand feast in the 
dining-room. After the feast came a 
pleasure that Alice carried about in her 
heart for many days. 

Late as the hour was when she reached 
her room that night, she could not go 
to bed until she had written about it 
in her blank-book ; this is what she 
wrote : 

Dear old Mr. Hey man played for us 
to-night at Trot’s wedding. I want to 
write about it now, while I remember it. 
It was the most beautiful music I ever 
heard. It made you feel like heaven, and 
he looked like an angel with his wavy 
white hair and his blue eyes looking up. 
Mamma cried, and so did I — I can’t write 
about it, words don’t tell how beautiful 


BARRYMORE STREET 


199 


it was. It makes me cry to think how 
very beautiful it was ! 

Trot had promised to wake Alice at 
four o’clock to say good-bye, and it seemed 
but a moment after she had fallen asleep, 
when she heard Trot’s voice saying, 

“ It is four o’clock, Alice. Don’t wake 
up darling ; just kiss me and fall asleep 
again.” 

Alice threw her arms around Trot’s 
neck. 

My eyes won’t come open ! Good-bye, 
dear Trot. It was a beautiful wedding, 
and oh, wasn’t that lovely music ? ” 

“ Yes, that was the best of all. Love 
Uncle Edwin for me every day, won’t you, 
Alice ? ” 

“Yes, I wish you were not going away. 
We would be good friends. Trot, I love 
you dearly.” 

“ I love you dearly, too. You must 
write to me, Alice.” 

“Yes, I will, and you must write to 
me ; all about your ranch, and your 
horses that go like the wind.” 


200 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


'' Yes, I will,’' laughed Trot. '' Now I 
must go. Good-bye, Alice.” 

Good-bye, dear Trot.” 

A few moments later Alice heard the 
carriage roll away from the door and she 
knew that Trot was gone. 

Well, well, no more weddings for you, 
young lady ! ” 

Alice opened her eyes quickly and 
looked around. 

Why, papa Carleton, how you fright- 
ened me ! I was sound asleep ! ” 

Do you know what time it is ? ” 

No.” 

It is to-morrow afternoon ! ” 

‘‘Is it really ? ” Alice sat up and 
looked through her drooping lashes at 
the little clock on the mantel. It was al- 
most one o’clock ! 

“ Mamma and I began to think we 
would have to go without you.” 

“ Why, where are you going ? ” asked 
Alice, wide awake. 

“ Out to see the little house where we 
are going to live.” 

Alice held out her arms to her father. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


201 


You look almost like yourself again, 
papa. That terrible look has gone out of 
your eyes. I didn’t have any father for 
a long, long time, did I ? ” 

No, you never have had the father 
you should have had, my child,” he re- 
plied, sitting down on the bed by her 
side. It makes it much easier for me, of 
course, Alice, to feel that you and mamma 
will be provided for no matter what comes 
to me.” 

You mean that Uncle Edwin would 
take care of us ? If there wasn’t Uncle 
Edwin, there would be some other way. 
God really takes care of us, papa.” 

Yes, I am beginning to know that He 
does, my daughter.” 

You see that beautiful shell over 
there ? It is a real nautilus. Harry 
Atwood brought it to me from Wales. 
When I looked at it yesterday, I thought 
if God could make a beautiful home like 
that for a nautilus, how wicked we were 
not to trust Him. I’m sure we don’t de- 
serve a home, if we don’t trust Him.” 

“ You precious child ! ” said her father, 


202 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


taking her into his arms, “ I will trust 
Him, Alice, just as you do.” 

Uncle Edwin says this will be my 
home, too. I love this beautiful room. 
May I come here real often when we live 
in the little house ? ” 

“Yes, as often as you please, daugh- 
ter.” 

“ Did mamma tell you about my being 
called the Queen, and about the corona- 
tion next week ? ” 

“ Yes, that will be a grand time. You 
have found yourself a very important 
little person since you came here, haven^t 
you ? I hope you will not be made self- 
conscious and vain by all this attention, 
Alice.” 

“Why, it is only just play, papa! 
Isn’t Uncle Edwin the funniest man you 
ever knew? And Mr. Betts, isn’t he 
comical ? They are not at all dignified, 
as you are.” 

“ You will find that your Uncle Edwin 
can be dignified when the occasion de- 
mands dignity, Alice,” said her father 
smiling. 


BARRYMORE STREET 203 


Yes, but he will always be like a boy 
though, won^t he ? Mamma has always 
been just like a girl with me, but still she 
is dignified, too, and you know I have 
always obeyed her.’^ 

Yes, more readily than you have me, 
naughty girl. Jump up now and dress. 
It will be nearly two o'clock before we 
get started." 

“ I wish we could stay here until after 
the coronation. Mamma is going to 
make me a Queen Elizabeth dress with a 
funny short waist, and a big gold lace 
frill around the neck, and I'm to have a 
long train. She's going to make it out of 
one of her old silk dresses. Did she tell 
you about it? " 

Yes, I guess she has told me every- 
thing. We will be here with Uncle 
Edwin for several weeks, Alice." 

Oh, I am so glad ! I could stay here 
forever ! " 

Alice ! " said her father in a grieved 
tone, don't you want to be with me in 
our own home ? " 

Yes, but it is so happy here, and so free." 


204 the queen of little 


Well, I haven^t any business now 
that amounts to anything,’^ replied her 
father sadly. We will try and be free 
and happy at our home, Alice. My poor 
pride is gone, my child.” 

We’ll not mind if we haven’t so 
much money, will we? We’re not poor, 
though, just think of all we have ! See 
my pretty room ! It is the prettiest one 
I ever had, and it is really minej Uncle 
Edwin said so.” 

Come, come ! ” said Mrs. Carleton, 
opening the door. When you two get 
to talking you never know when to 
stop.” 

They all drove out to see the little 
house after Alice had had her breakfast, or 
rather her dinner, for it was nearly two 
o’clock before she finally succeeded in 
getting dressed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carleton and Uncle 
Edwin went in the carriage, and Alice 
and Harry went in the dog-cart. 

You don’t like me at all, do you ? ” 
said Harry, as the two were bobbing 
merrily along. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


205 


« Why, yes I do now,’’ replied Alice, 
laughing. 

No you don’t, not unless you’ve 
changed your mind since the first day.” 

I’ve changed several times,” said 
Alice. ‘‘ First I liked you, and then I 
didn’t, and then I did.” 

I should never speak to you as I did 
to Amy yesterday. We always scrap. 
She knows I’m just in fun.” 

“ I know it is only fun, now. I never 
knew any boys ; that is why I didn’t 
understand you.” 

Mr. Worthington said you had been 
kept about as close as though you were 
in a convent.” 

I had lessons at home with a govern- 
ess, that is the only way I was kept 
close. I had one dear girl friend, but I 
never knew any boys.” 

Well, you didn’t miss much, then.” 

Yes, I did, I like boys.” 

“Oh, do you?” Harry pushed back 
his cap. “ You are so dignified, I sup- 
posed you thought we were a terrible 
lot.” 


2o6 the queen of little 


“ I’m not dignified, either ! ” 

Yes, you are. That is why you were 
called the Queen.” 

Oh, Mr. Betts said you were the one 
who called me the Queen first. What 
made you ? ” 

Why, because you hold your head up 
as though you owned the earth.” 

I hold my head just as mamma 
does,” said Alice, blushing. She did not 
know whether he was making fun of her 
or not. 

I know it, and she’s the most beauti- 
ful woman I ever saw, and I saw elegant 
ones in London. We saw a whole box 
full of royalty at the opera one night. 
There wasn’t one of them half as good 
looking as your mother.” 

“You may say nice things about 
mamma all day, and I’ll agree,” said 
Alice laughing. “ She is just as good as 
she is beautiful, too.” 

“ Now you can see the little house 
where you are going to live,” said Harry, 
pointing. “ That house where the road 
turns, with the tall pines behind it.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


207 


“ Oh, isn’t it pretty, and how near the 
woods are ! ” exclaimed Alice. 

“ That is only a grove. The woods are 
over beyond that hill. Can you play 
tennis ? ” 

‘‘ No, I’ve never had a chance to learn, 
but I’d like to.” 

“You see what large grounds there 
are? We can have a fine court. I’ll 
come out and set it out and teach you 
how to play.” 

“ Oh, thank you, and I’ll ask the other 
boys, and the girls. We can have such 
good times.” 

The carriage had stopped before the 
door, and Mrs. Carleton was waving her 
hand to Alice. 

“ I’d rather have a little house and 
large grounds, than a large house and no 
grounds, wouldn’t you ? ” said Harry, as 
they turned into the gateway. 

“ Oh, yes I would. What big trees. 
Why, it is a regular story-book place ! I 
didn’t think it would be as nice as this.” 

The little red house half covered with 
vines did look like a picture in a story- 


2o8 the queen of little 


book. It was not such a very small 
house — only small when compared with 
Uncle Edwin’s large house or the one in 
which Alice had always lived. 

Isn’t it a pretty place, Alice? ” called 
her mother, as they drove up. 

“ Yes, isn’t it? Doesn’t it have a real 
homey look to you, papa? It does to 
me.” 

‘‘Yes, it is a very pretty place, 
daughter,” replied Mr. Carleton, “ so near 
the city, and yet it seems quite like the 
country.” 

They all got out and went through the 
house. Uncle Edwin leading the way. 

“ Love has rebuilt our home, darling,” 
said Mrs. Carleton in a low glad tone to 
Alice as they stopped to look from one of 
the windows. 

“ Yes, some way I feel as though 
we were going to be more at home here 
than we ever have been, don’t you, 
mamma ? ” 

“I am sure that we will be. It is 
really our home, too. Uncle Edwin is 
going to give me the deed to it, Alice.” 


BARRYMORE STREET 


209 


“ Oh, mamma, is he ? Does papa 
know? 

No, not vet. I wanted him to see it 
first.'' 

“ He is glad to be friends with Uncle 
Edwin, isn't he ? he looks almost 
happy." 

“ Yes, the unhappiness is all in the 
past, now, dear. You must forget it." 

“ Oh, I do, mamma, but how could ' 
any one ever not be friends with Uncle 
Edwin ! " 


XIX 


ALICE THE QUEEN 

T^^AYS and weeks fly when you 

I 1 are having a good time, don^t 
they, mamma ? said Alice. 
“ We have been here nearly two weeks, 
but it doesn’t seem half that time.” 

Yes, it has been a very eventful two 
weeks,” replied her mother. 

“I’ve been wondering how it would 
seem to be a truly Queen,” said Alice 
thoughtfully. “ Amy and I were look- 
ing at some pictures of the coronation of 
the little Queen of Holland. I wonder 
if she didn’t feel as though she’d rather 
be just a girl. It must be very, very 
serious to be a real Queen.” 

“Why, do you feel serious on your 
coronation day ? ” asked her mother 
laughing. 

“Yes, I do, mamma. I want to be as 
good and generous as Uncle Edwin. I’d 
210 


BARRYMORE STREET 


211 


rather have people love me as they love 
him, than anything in the world, 
wouldnT you ? 

Yes, indeed, I would, Alice/^ 

Papa has promised that I may stay 
here with Uncle Edwin as much as I 
please. I shall love our little home, I 
know, but this seems like my home, 
too.” 

It was not easy for papa to make that 
promise. I hope that you appreciate his 
self-denial, dear ? ” 

^‘Oh, I do, but I think he will love me 
just as well if he shares me with Uncle 
Edwin. You don’t say anything about 
your self-denial. Precious.” 

‘‘You know that I am happiqst when 
you are happy, Alice.” 

“ And you know that I couldn’t stay 
away from you very long at a time, if I 
tried,” said Alice, throwing her arms 
around her mother’s neck and kissing 
her. 

“ I suppose I may come up to the 
castle and see your Majesty, some- 
times ? ” 


212 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


“ Oh, don^t, mamma, you make me 
feel as though it was going to be a real 
separation ! ’’ 

The little Queen Elizabeth dress which 
Alice was to wear at her coronation, 
lay ready on her bed, and all the final 
arrangements for the frolic were be- 
ing completed. Harry Atwood, and the 
other boys, were hard at work erecting 
a throne in the music-room; frequent 
peals of laughter told of the good times 
they were having. 

Mrs. Carleton had insisted that Alice 
remain quietly in her room until it was 
time to dress for the play. It was difii- 
cult to obey, for Daphne and Amy were 
in the next room laughing and talking, 
and there was still another long hour to 
wait. She could not be quiet, but wan- 
dered from her mother’s room into her 
own and back again, like a caged bird. 
At last she sat down at her little desk and 
opening her blank-book began to write. 

'' Yesterday was Mr. Brush’s birthday. 
He has been the lamplighter on Little 
Barrymore Street for years and years. 


BARRYMORE STREET 213 


(he used to be here when papa was a 
boy). The children all know him and 
give him presents every year. We all 
went around with him to light the lamps 
last night — all of ^ The Hexagon/ and the 
boys, and gave him our presents. The 
boys gave him funny things, and oh, how 
he laughed. Helen Easton gave him a 
big cake, and Bertha gave him a big pie. 
He laughed about those, too. (They 
were both enormous.) But he didn’t 
even smile when I gave him the five 
dollar gold piece Mr. Heyman gave me, 
and then, when Amy gave him one too, 
he looked, oh, so serious. (We didn’t say 
anything about his putting it in the 
bank for Tommy, because his clothes are 
so thin and poor, we hope he will use it 
to buy some new ones.) 

I think, as Uncle Edwin does, that it 
is nice to be interested in all the people 
you see every day. Uncle Edwin was the 
one who started the children giving pres- 
ents, but he says we mustn’t ever give 
large presents again, because all the chil- 
dren can’t do it, and it isn’t right. 


214 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


'' They all give the postman a present 
every birthday, too. I don’t like the 
postman at all. He is as cross as he can 
be, but Uncle Edwin says he is new on 
the route, and that he’ll get over being so 
cross after he has been in the sunshine on 
Little Barrymore Street for a few months.” 

Alice rested her cheek on her hand and 
thought earnestly for several moments, 
and then turning over the pages of her 
book began writing again, — “ I’ve been 
waiting to write more about Harry At- 
wood because I didn’t know what to say. 
We are real well acquainted now, and I 
like him ever so much. I have a little 
pony that Uncle Edwin gave me, oh the 
dearest little pony. Harry and I go 
riding almost every day together. (He 
has a pony of his own too.) 

“You can get out into the suburbs from 
here in a few minutes. Some of the 
homes here have beautiful grounds, acres 
and acres. Harry says they are as beau- 
tiful as the English country houses. 

“We have been out to our little home 
several times. Papa has had the ground 


BARRYMORE STREET 


for the tennis rolled, and the house is 
partly furnished. 

“ I shall enjoy coming in here to stay 
with Uncle Edwin, Harry and I have 
such good times together. He likes to 
read the books I do, and he likes to write 
about things, as I do. He keeps one book 
that he calls ‘ Good Things that Hap- 
pen I ' He only just writes the good 
things. (He says more good things hap- 
pen if you don’t remember the unpleas- 
ant ones.) 

Harry knows all about flowers, and he 
is helping me press flowers for my other 
blank-book. (I’ve written about twenty- 
four different kinds of flowers already, 
and I believe I’m more interested in it 
than I am in this book about people. 
First, I mucilage in a pressed flower, with 
a little slip of paper over the stem, and 
then write everything about it that I 
know or can read or that any one tells 
me.) 

'' Harry plays on the violin beautifully, 
and Uncle Edwin is going to send him to 
Germany to study next year. (I don’t 


2i6 the queen of little 


like the violin very well. That is the 
only thing we disagree on.) Harry thinks 
it is very serious to disagree about that. 
(I canT like everything he does.) He 
does play beautifully, though, and he 
makes a real picture with his violin 
under his chin, and that earnest look 
in his eyes. He is a very handsome 
boy." 

May I come in ? " said a voice at the 
door. 

Oh, Uncle Edwin, what time is it ? ” 
asked Alice closing the book and spring- 
ing to her feet. 

It is almost three o^clock. Why are 
you not down-stairs playing with the 
other children, Alice ? " 

Mamma told me to stay up here, be- 
cause I have had so much excitement 
lately, and I am going to be up late 
again to-night, you know." 

Uncle Edwin drew her into his arms 
and kissed her. 

And have you been quiet, little 


BARRYMORE STREET 


217 


‘‘ No, not very, I was too impatient. 
Vyg been writing in my book.^^ 

The book that no one is to see, but 
mamma ? 

I think perhaps I could let you see 
it. Uncle Edwin, now that I am better 
acquainted with you, but no one else.’^ 

Thank you, I shall consider it a 
great honor. Do you love me, Alice ? 

You know that I do, Uncle Edwin. 
Every one loves you. I never saw my 
father seem as happy with any one as he 
is with you.” 

We have always been the very best 
of friends.” 

Alice looked up quickly. 

No, no, that trouble was nothing 
real, dear little heart. The real always 
lasts, and is the true for each one of us. 
I loved your father when he was a tod- 
dler in dresses, Alice. He was a brave 
good child, and he is at heart a brave 
good man.” 

“ Yes, he is brave. Uncle Edwin ; no 
one knows how very brave he is but 
mamma and I. If you had seen him 


2i8 the queen of little 


two months ago, you wouldn’t have 
known it was papa.” 

'^Well, I must leave you with one 
more sweet kiss. You will be the Queen 
of Little Barrymore Street when next I 
see you,” he added, laughing. Be 
merry and happy, my child. Leave this 
serious little face up here, and never re- 
member to put it on again. The sun- 
shine of to-day is your crown, my Alice, 
and love is your sceptre.” 

Half an hour later, the clear ascending 
notes of a bugle sounded through the 
house. This was a complete surprise to 
Alice, and when she went dancing out 
into the hall in her little Queen Eliza- 
beth dress, a still greater surprise awaited 
her. 

On either side of the broad staircase the 
children stood waiting, all dressed in the 
costume worn by the little men and 
women of long ago — the boys in pow- 
dered wigs, and velvet trousers, and slip- 
pers with wide silver buckles ; the girls 
in quaint figured silks, with the Eliza- 
bethan ruff, and with the hair done high 


BARRYMORE STREET 


219 


in puffs and rolls, wonderful to see. 
Amy beckoned Alice to her place at the 
head of the stairs. 

Oh, how lovely you all look ! ” said 
Alice, clapping her hands. Who planned 
it, Amy?” 

Daphne and Harry. Keep still ! ” 

“You mustn^t talk at all ! ” whispered 
Daphne. “You must look superior as 
though you were used to it.” 

The bugle sounded again in a most im- 
pressive manner, and then, after a short 
silence, some one began playing the beau- 
tiful march from Faust. 

Alice, followed closely by her ladies in 
waiting, passed down the stairs between 
the lines of children and into the music- 
room. 

And here another great surprise 
awaited her, but she held her head high 
and looked superior, as Daphne had di- 
rected, and made no exclamation, though 
her eyes danced, and her heart beat fast 
with the beauty of the scene. 

On a raised platform was a little golden 
throne, and all about the throne were 


220 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


yellow flowers and palms and ferns. 
And on either side of the throne stood a 
tiny boy with a tiny golden staff*. Who 
do you suppose these little boys were? 
Leon and Mark, Betty Holderman^s 
twins. Oh, how cunning and funny 
they looked in their little white satin 
trousers. 

When all was quiet, the bugle sounded 
again, and two boys dressed as heralds 
marched slowly in, bearing the crown be- 
tween them on a velvet cushion. The 
crown was made of moss-rose buds, and 
no maiden queen ever looked more 
lovely than Alice when it was placed 
upon her head. 

And then followed a grand march to 
merry music all through the house — 
Alice and her two tiny pages leading the 
way. 

Again the bugle sounded, and the 
herald announced in a loud voice, — 
“ The carriages for the royal procession 
are at the door ! 

“Oh, how lovely!’' exclaimed Alice, 
forgetting her dignity, as they came out 


BARRYMORE STREET 


221 


on the walk. I didn^t think it would 
be half as lovely as this, Amy ! ” 

There were six carriages of different 
kinds, all decorated in gay buntings, and 
the horses looked as though they had 
just trotted out of fairy-land, with their 
garlands of flowers, and their light rib- 
bons, and the plumes of grasses waving 
at their heads. 

The horses in the Queen’s carriage 
were white, and the garlands of flowers, 
with which they were half covered were 
the dark red carnations. 

At last all were seated and the car- 
riages moved slowly down Little Barry- 
more street, and across Westfield Terrace 
into the park. 

^^Who is playing the bugle?” asked 
Alice. 

^^You mustn’t turn around,” said 
Daphne. “ It is dear little Mr. Betts. 
Doesn’t he play beautifully?” 

Oh, I must see him ! ” said Alice. 
** Which carriage is he in ? Is he in cos- 
tume, too? ” 

^‘Yes, in the funniest yellow blouse 


222 THE QUEEN OF LITTLE 


and trousers/^ said Amy, but don’t look 
around, he is in the last carriage, and 
you’ll spoil the effect.” 

I am sure no one ever saw a prettier 
sight in that quiet old city of New Eng- 
land. All through the park they drove, 
and back through several of the residence 
streets, and at last into Little Barrymore 
Street and home. 

The gayest evening you can imagine 
followed. Alice threw aside her crown 
and joined in the games and dancing and 
the singing with the merriest. 

It all ended in a good romp, and the 
cake-walkj as Amy had planned ! 

Just think what good times we have 
had ever since we came here. Precious,” 
said Alice, when her mother came in to 
kiss her after she was in bed that night. 
“ Daphne says I needn’t expect it to be 
this way all the time though.” 

You will always have good times, my 
darling,” replied her mother. It isn’t 
the unusual good times that give us the 
greatest happiness after all. The quiet. 


BARRYMORE STREET 


223 


little every-day blessings, when we learn 
to take note of them, and be truly grate- 
ful, are our real sources of joy.'' 

Yes, I know that is true, mamma. I 
am especially grateful for my dear little 
canary bird that you bought me, and for 
that beautiful shell Harry gave me. I 
thought this little verse about the shell 
and my canary last night, — 

*‘My nautilus shell you sing of the sea, 

•Sing little golden heart, sing to me, — 

The love of the earth and the love of the sea. 

The love of God, and your love for me.” 

^‘That was a sweet thought, and a 
pretty verse, my little girl. Good-night. 
God bless you." 

** Good-night, Precious ; God bless you, 
too." 


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